Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies (excluding skippers) (Papilionoidea) » Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) » Admirals, Sisters (Limenitidinae) » Admirals, Viceroy (Limenitis) » White Admiral/Western White Admiral/Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) » Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)

Subspecies Limenitis arthemis astyanax - Red-Spotted Purple

Limenitis Butterfly - Limenitis arthemis

Limenitis arthemis astyanax - Limenitis arthemis

Limenitis caterpillar - Limenitis arthemis

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))

Family Nymphalidae (Brushfooted Butterflies)

Subfamily Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)

Genus Limenitis (Admirals, Viceroy)

Species arthemis (White Admiral/Western White Admiral/Red-Spotted Purple)

Subspecies astyanax (Red-Spotted Purple)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Basilarchia arthemis astyanax

Explanation of Names

Greek Αστυαναξ- In Homer's Iliad, this is the title given to Hector's infant son by the people of Troy. It means "master of the city"

Identification

Red-Spotted Purple mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail, but its hind wings lack the tails and Pipevine lacks spots at wing base. Compare Pipevine Swallowtail (below):

Food

A variety of deciduous trees: willows and poplars (Willow family), cherries, apples and pears (Rose family), birches (Birch family), oaks and beeches (Beech family), Basswood (Linden family) and others. Also recorded from currant and blueberry bushes