Red Spotted Purple Butterfly: All You Need to Know – A Quick Guide

The Red-spotted Purple Butterfly is a fascinating and visually stunning creature, commonly found across North America. Boasting a breath-taking iridescent blue to blue-green sheen on their wings, these butterflies are quite a sight to behold. Their underside, on the other hand, features a unique dark brown color, complemented by red-orange bars and spots near the base of their wings (source).

Not only are these butterflies captivating in appearance, but they also exhibit intriguing behaviors. For instance, male Red-spotted Purple Butterflies have a unique method of finding females, where they perch around 3 feet above the ground (source). Additionally, their caterpillars showcase exceptional camouflage, as they closely resemble bird droppings, which effectively deters predators.

Physical Description and Identification

Size and Wingspan

• Red-spotted purple butterflies have a wingspan of around 2¼ – 4 inches (5.7 – 10.1 cm).

Color Pattern and Variations

• These butterflies exhibit a mainly blue or blue-green iridescent sheen on their upper side, especially on the outer part of the hindwing.
• Some forms have a white band running across the middle of the wings, sometimes called “white admirals.”

Dorsal View and Ventral Side

• On the dorsal (upper) side, two red-orange bars can be found near the base of the forewing’s leading edge, and on the ventral (lower) side, the hindwing showcases three red-orange spots near its base.
• The ventral side is typically dark brown in color, with small, scattered white spots.

Comparison Table: Dorsal View vs Ventral Side

Overall, the red-spotted purple butterfly is a visually striking species, with its iridescent sheen, unique color patterns, and distinctive red-orange spots.

Life Cycle and Behavior

Eggs and Caterpillars

The life cycle of the Red-spotted Purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) begins when the female lays her eggs. These eggs, usually laid on the leaves of host plants, will hatch within about 6-14 days, revealing the green caterpillars. The caterpillars resemble pipevine swallowtail caterpillars, which helps protect them from predators due to the pipevine swallowtail’s unpalatable taste.

Caterpillar features:

• Green with white and brown markings
• Resemble Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars

Examples of host plants for caterpillar stage:

• Willow
• Cherry
• Poplar

Chrysalis and Pupa

After the caterpillar stage, Red-spotted Purple butterflies enter the chrysalis stage, which lasts for around two weeks. In this stage, they transform into a pupa inside the chrysalis. The chrysalis is usually brown or green and well-camouflaged in their woodland habitat.

Pupa features:

• Brown or green color
• Camouflaged in a woodland setting

Adult Diet and Preferences

When Red-spotted Purple butterflies emerge as adults, they feed on a variety of substances. Their diet mainly consists of tree sap, rotting fruit, and even animal dung. Due to their preference for woodland habitats, they are often found near trees and plants that provide their food sources.

In comparison to other butterflies, such as the White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis), Red-spotted Purple adults are more likely to be found in the shadows of trees and shrubs. The table below compares the habitats and diets of the Red-spotted Purple and White Admiral butterflies.

These amazing creatures produce two broods per year, ensuring their population continues to thrive in their North American habitat.

Habitat and Distribution

Geographical Range

The Red-spotted Purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) is a widely distributed North American butterfly, with its habitat stretching from Alaska and Canada to Florida and the Eastern United States. They are also present in the Great Lakes region and as far southwest as eastern Texas.

Woodlands and Forest Edges

This butterfly species thrives in:

• North American woodlands
• Forest edges near streams
• Places with a presence of their host plants

The larval host plants include:

• Willows
• Cottonwoods
• Aspens
• Poplars
• Wild cherries
• Hawthorn

Adult Red-spotted Purples feed on:

• Tree sap
• Honeydew
• Rotting fruit
• Occasionally, flowers

Adaptation to Urban Areas

Surprisingly, these butterflies are quite adaptable to urban areas like parks, gardens, and suburbs. Some factors contributing to their successful urban adaptation are:

• Availability of host plants in gardens and parks
• A preference for a wider variety of flowering plants
• Adaptability to different types of woodlands

Comparison of Red-spotted Purple Butterfly and White Admiral Butterfly

In summary, the Red-spotted Purple is a versatile and adaptable butterfly species that can be found across a wide geographic range, from woodlands and forest edges to urban environments. They rely on host plants for their survival and are closely related to White Admirals, displaying similar characteristics.

Breeding and Host Plants

Common Host Plants

The Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) typically lays eggs on the tips of host leaves. Some common host plants for these butterflies are:

• Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina)
• Deerberry (Vaccinius)
• Black Cherry
• Apple

These plants provide a suitable environment for the butterfly larvae to grow and develop into adult butterflies.

Fruit Preferences

Adult Red-Spotted Purple Butterflies are known to feed on the nectar of various fruits, including:

• Overripe bananas
• Citrus fruits
• Apples

They’re also attracted to other sources of nutrition, like mud puddles and bird droppings.

Interaction with Other Species

The Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly has an interesting relationship with the Pipevine Swallowtail. Their appearance mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail, which is an example of the evolution of mimicry in the Lepidoptera family.

Comparison Table: Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly vs. Pipevine Swallowtail

Hybridization

Another intriguing aspect of the Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly is its ability to hybridize with the White Admiral Butterfly (Limenitis arthemis arthemis). Their hybrid offspring are healthy and fertile, with a broader white band across the wings.

Broods

Red-Spotted Purple Butterflies typically have two broods in a single season. The eggs take around 6-14 days to hatch, and the adult butterfly lifespan can vary depending on various factors.

Predators and Mimicry

Common Predators

The Red Spotted Purple Butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) faces several predators, such as birds and spiders, which often prey on them. Some of the common predators include:

• Swallowtail birds
• Parasitic wasps
• Praying mantises

Mimicry Strategies

The Red Spotted Purple Butterfly uses mimicry strategies to avoid its predators. One such strategy is mimicking the appearance of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. This mimicry helps deter predators, as the Pipevine Swallowtail is known to be toxic. Some characteristics of their mimicry include:

• Dark, iridescent wings
• Similar markings and color patterns

Red Spotted Purple Butterfly typically inhabits forest edges, where it blends in with its surroundings. It shares a close resemblance with another subspecies, the Limenitis arthemis arthemis (White Admiral).

Here is a comparison table:

While the Red Spotted Purple Butterfly does not possess any toxins, its mimicry successfully deters predators by imitating the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail appearance.