Orange Co., NC
20 July 2005
Common and statewide in NC. Probably three broods in NC, adults can be seen on the wing during all months from April to November. Named for a red mark on the upper surface of the wings, not for the orange spots below, this common butterfly is often seen along roadsides and trails.
Amazingly, this is a subspecies of another butterfly called the White Admiral (L. a. arthemis), which, at first glance, doesn't look much like our Red-spotted Purple (see below)! |
|
| Blackwood Division, Duke Forest Orange Co., NC 20 July 2005 |
same individual |
 |
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) caterpillar Macon Co., NC 12 May 2006 |
 |
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) caterpillar Macon Co., NC 12 May 2006 |
 |
 |
Red-spotted Purples are usually seen on dirt roads and at mud but occasionally are found nectaring, like this one on Buddleia. |
| Chatham Co., NC 24 Sep 2005 |
same individual |
 |
Red-spotted Purple males often like to perch on flattened on leaves from which they can launch out and chase other bugs flying by. Orange Co., NC20 Apr 2006 |
 |
Duke Gardens Durham Co., NC 16 Aug 2003 |
 |
 |
This is the White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis), the same species as above but a different subspecies. It's found in the northern states and Canada and readily hybridizes with Red-spotted Purples where their ranges overlap. |
| Ontario, Canada 7 Aug 2005 |
same individual |
Created on ... November 30, 2003 | Updated on ... April 22, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu