Where do red spotted purple butterflies live?
The Red-spotted Purple occurs mainly in the Eastern half of the United States, from Pennsylvania west to the mid-west, southward to eastern Texas, east to Florida. The butterfly is medium-sized with rounded dark wings. There several rows of white spots along the hind-edge of the wings.
Is a red spotted purple butterfly rare?
Red-spotted Purples and White Admirals are not among our most common butterflies, but they are not rare either.
How do you attract red spotted purple butterflies?
Host plants used by the Red-Spotted Purple include cottonwood, wild cherry, willows, aspens, poplars, black oaks, hawthorn and other trees. It gathers nectar from a variety of flowers, but prefers tree samp, rotting fruit, dung and carrion.
Why is it called Red Spotted Purple?
The red-spotted purple is so named because of its overall purple hue and for the red to orangish-red spots on the underside of the wings. The red-spotted purple avoids being eaten owing to its strong resemblance to the poisonous pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor). This is called Batesian mimicry.
How big does the Red-spotted Purple butterfly get?
Red-spotted purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax, is a North American brush-footed butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches.
What does a red spotted purple butterfly look like?
Red-spotted purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax, is a North American brush-footed butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. The upper sides of the wings are black and iridescent blue with minor orange spots, and the underside tend to have more brown-black, and blue with more striking orange spots.
What do red spotted purple butterflies lay their eggs on?
Red Spotted Purple female butterflies prefer to lay eggs along the tips of cherry or willow leaves near water courses or along power or gas line right of ways near forest edges.
What does it mean to see a pipevine swallowtail?
They can be a reminder to be at peace with your life, and to feel calm and joy in your situation. As a precious color, a blue butterfly could be a sign to look for the value in your life.
What do red-spotted purple butterflies lay their eggs on?
What do red-spotted purple caterpillars eat?
Caterpillars of the red-spotted purple eat leaves of a variety of woody plants including cherry trees, poplars, and aspens. Two generations of this butterfly occur in Maryland and adults can be seen flying from spring through early autumn.
What do red spotted purple caterpillars eat?
Where does the red spotted purple butterfly live?
It often lands high in trees, but will drop to ground level to feed and sip at mud puddles and stream banks. Host plants used by the Red-Spotted Purple include cottonwood, wild cherry, willows, aspens, poplars, black oaks, hawthorn and other trees.
What kind of butterfly has red spots on its wings?
Red Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) side view. Limenitis arthemis, the red-spotted purple or white admiral, is a North American butterfly species in the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis.
What is the scientific name of the Purple Butterfly?
Limenitis arthemis. Limenitis arthemis, the red-spotted purple or white admiral, is a North American butterfly species in the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis.
What does the red-spotted purple butterfly mimic?
The red-spotted purple butterfly, also known as the subspecies L. arthemis astyanax, is a well known Batesian mimic. The palatable red-spotted purple mimics the unpalatable pipevine swallowtail ( Battus philenor) with its overall dark wings with bright iridescent blue along the hind wings.