Minnesota Seasons - red-spotted purple

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy


Conservation Status
IUCN Red List	not listed
NatureServe	N5 - Secure S5 - Secure
Minnesota	not listed

Description

Red-spotted purple is a large brush-footed butterfly with a 3″ to 3½″ wingspan.

The upper side is dark blue, the underside is dark brown. The upper side of the forewing is dark bluish-black near the body fading to dark brown or orangish-brown near the tip. There is a submarginal row of orange spots and three marginal rows white or pale blue spots. The upper side of the hindwing is dark blue fading to a submarginal row of iridescent light blue spots. There are also three marginal rows pale blue spots.

The underside of both wings is brownish-black with a submarginal row of orange spots and three marginal rows white or pale blue spots. There are additional black-ringed orange spots near the base of each wing.

The range of this species overlaps that of the white admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) in a broad band from Connecticut to southwestern Minnesota. Where the ranges overlap the subspecies interbreed and produce offspring with intergrading characteristics.

Size

Wingspan: 3″ to 3¼″

Similar Species

Habitat

Deciduous or mixed forests dominated by aspen or birch.

Biology

Season

Late May to early September

Behavior

Life Cycle

The female lays eggs singly on leaf tips of host plants. Offspring of the first brood emerge in August. The offspring of the second brood overwinter as caterpillars in rolled leaves, pupate in the spring, and emerge as adults in June.

Larva Hosts

Leaves of American basswood, aspen, birch, black cherry, hawthorn, oak, serviceberry, willow, and other trees.

Adult Food

Sap flows, rotting fruit, aphid honeydew, carrion, dung, and occasionally nectar from small white flowers including meadowsweet and arrowwood.


Distribution
		Sources 7, 21, 24, 29, 30, 82. Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, XX/XX/XXXX).


Occurrence


Taxonomy
Order	Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
Superfamily	Papilionoidea (butterflies)
Family	Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)
Subfamily	Limenitidinae (admirals and allies)
Tribe	Limenitidini
Subtribe	Limenitidina (admirals)
Genus	Limenitis
Species	Limenitis arthemis (red-spotted admiral)

Subordinate Taxa


Synonyms
Basilarchia arthemis astyanax Basilarchia astyanax Callianira ephestiaena Limenitis arthemis astyanax Limenitis astyanax Limenitis ephestion Limenitis ursula Najas turbida ephestion Nymphalis ephestion Nymphalis ursula

Common Names
red-spotted purple


Visitor Photos

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Shamiah S


Joan Miller
It landed on my common milkweed which is heavily covered with aphid honeydew. The milkweed grows in my backyard vegetable garden. It's a beautiful butterfly that I have never seen before today.

Stephanie Burley

Alfredo Colon


Margot Avey

I took this photo on August 1st at Westwood Nature Center in St Louis Park, MN. I believe it is a Red-Spotted Purple Swallowtail.		Here is one more photo I shot at the end of July at the gardens at Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka, MN. It is exquisite!


Nanc
Spotted in front yard rocks.

Heidi Wahl


Jon Burgoyne
Sand Dunes State Forest surprise


Chris Larson
Freshly emerged from the cocoon.


Laurén D.
My first time seeing one in our garden. A true beauty!

Lynda

First time I’ve seen this beauty in my garden


Ida Marie
Never seen one before.....beautiful!!


Tom Baker


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos



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Camera

Slideshows

Red Spotted Purple
DianesDigitals

About

Copyright DianesDigitals

Limenitis arthemis (Red-spotted Purple)
Allen Chartier

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

slideshow


Visitor Videos

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Other Videos

Garden Butterfly: Limenitis Arthemis Astyanax (Black and Blue Wings)
Gary Pilarchik

About

Published on Aug 20, 2012

Part of gardening is the wildlife. This is a video the shows the beautiful colors of the Limenitis Arthemis Astyanax. Black velvet wings with sky blue light markings on the edge. The upper parts of the wing and undersides have rust orange spots. The butterfly sits on a Sedum.

Red Spotted Purple Butterfly
Kim Smith

About

Uploaded on Jul 8, 2010

Red-spotted Purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) warming wings and nectaring from native meadowsweet (Spirea latifolia), filmed in our Gloucester garden in early July.

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

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Shamiah S 6/7/2023	Location: Cannon Falls MN

Joan Miller
7/31/2022

Location: Rochester, MN

It landed on my common milkweed which is heavily covered with aphid honeydew. The milkweed grows in my backyard vegetable garden. It's a beautiful butterfly that I have never seen before today.