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Species Limenitis arthemis - White Admiral/Western White Admiral/Red-Spotted Purple

Red-spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis Red-spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis Red-spotted purple - Limenitis arthemis Red-Spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis Limenitis arthemis (Red-spotted Purple) - Limenitis arthemis Red Spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis White Admiral/Red-Spotted Purple Hybrid?? - Limenitis arthemis Red-spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
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)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Minno et al (1) list as Basilarchia arthemis astyanax, apparently a new name.
Explanation of Names
See below for explanation of common names of the three forms.
Numbers
three forms (not subspecies, apparently)--see below
Size
75-101mm wingspan (2)
Identification
White Admiral (Limentis arthemis form arthemis) - the northern form, basically black and white in the east:

In the west specimens tend to have red spots on the hind wing and are called Western White Admirals (Limentis arthemis form rubrofasciata):

In the SE USA and as far north as extreme southern Ontario this species is black and purple (no white band)and is called Red-Spotted Purple (Limentis arthemis form astyanax):

As the 3 forms are regarded as being the same species, intergrades between them are quite common.

Red-Spotted Purple mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail, but its hind wings lack the tails and Pipevine lacks spots at wing base. Compare Pipevine Swallowtail:
Food
Larvae feed on cherry, willow, birch and some other trees and shrubs. Adults will take moisture from mud puddles, rotten fruit and animal feces.
Remarks
Comments from Robin McLeod, 10 November, 2005, on subspecies with links can be found here
See Also
Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor
Print References
Opler, pp. 278-279 & plate 24 (2)
Minno, Butler & Hall pp. 112, 183 (1)
Glassberg, Minno & Calhoun p. 96 (3)
Works Cited
1.Florida Butterfly Caterpillars And Their Host Plants
By Marc C. Minno, JERRY F. BUTLER, DONALD W. HALL
2.A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides)
By Paul A. Opler, Vichai Malikul, Roger Tory Peterson
3.Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East
By Jeffrey Glassberg