Subspecies Limenitis arthemis astyanax - Red-spotted Purple

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Identification · Food · Life Cycle · See Also

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly - Limenitis arthemis

Black and Blue Butterfly - Limenitis arthemis

unidentified blue and black butterfly - Limenitis arthemis

Red-spotted Purple caterpillar - Limenitis arthemis

Limenitis arthemis Mount Agamenticus - Limenitis arthemis

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Subfamily Limenitidinae (Admirals, Sisters)

Tribe Limenitidini (Admirals, Sisters and Sailors)

Genus Limenitis (Admirals & Viceroy)

Species arthemis (White Admiral/Western White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple - Hodges#4522)

Subspecies astyanax (Red-spotted Purple)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Papilio Eques Trojanus Astyanax Fabricius, 1775. Type locality: America

Papilio Equites Troës Ephestion Stoll, 1790. Type locality: Gold Coast of Africa (in error)

Papilio Nymphalis Ursula Fabricius, 1793. Type locality: America

Callianira ephestiaena (Stoll) Hübner, 1816

Najas turbida ephestion (Stoll) Hübner, 1819

Nymphalis ephestion (Stoll) Godman, 1819

Nymphalis ursula (Fabricius) Godman, 1819

Limenitis ephestion Harris, 1833

Limenitis ursula Westwood & Hewitson, 1850

Limenitis astyanax (Fabricius) Butler, 1869

Basilarchia astyanax (Fabricius) Scudder, 1871

Limenitis arthemis astyanax (Fabricius) ? date and author

Basilarchia arthemis astyanax (Fabricius) ? date and author

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"

As to the common name, many people wonder why it is a "Purple" instead of a "Blue", since the color seen on the wings usually looks decidedly more blue (even greenish) than purple. Something to debate about when time needs killed.

Identification

Hard to confuse with any other species. Black-brown with metallic bluish coloring on both sides (may appear purplish or greenish); with orange spots on lower hind wing, and with pale bluish to white markings near outer margins of wings.

Red-Spotted Purple mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail, but its hind wings lack the tails and Pipevine lacks spots at wing base. Other Pipevine Swallowtails may look somewhat similar, but only superficially, and all are easy to tell apart. Other mimics (or possible mimics) in the same region include Pipevine, Black, & female Tiger Swallowtails, and Mourning Cloak, . 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

Life Cycle

Click on an image to view the life cycle: