Detailed information on Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)

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plant_it

Valparaiso, IN | May 2012 | Positive

You can't stop looking at their wings...breathtaking to see in person.

"Preferred host plants: birches, including Betula lenta; Salicaceae, including Salix bebbiana and Populus tremuloides, and Prunus virginiana (Rosaceae). Also but not as often: Crataegus, Amelanchier, Malus pumila, Prunus pensylvanica and Prunus serotina (Rosaceae), Populus deltoides, P. grandidentata and P. balsamifera (Salicaceae), Alnus rugosa, Betula alleghaniensis and Carpinus caroliniana (Betulaceae), Ulmus americana (Ulmaceae), Tilia americana (Malvaceae) and Fagus grandifolia (Fagaceae).

Adults are diurnal, they fly from the morning until soon after dusk (Fullard & Napoleone 2001)."
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themikesmom

Concord, NC | September 2011 | Positive

Last year my son took a pic of what he thought was a Red Spotted Purple, but it turned out to be the black and blue variety of the usually yellow and black Eastern Swallowtail. Today we came home from lunch and this beautiful brilliant true Red Spotted Purple was resting on my son's bloomed out blue bubbles rose bush. I was able to get the perfect pic. Also I've been told it is extremely rare to find a Red Spotted Purple that actually has either some purple on its wings or the red spots on the wings, and this one had both the dark purple on it and the red spots!!! We feel really blessed that this thing of great natural beauty has chosen to rest in our garden. Sandra.

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themikeman

Concord, NC (Zone 7a) | August 2010 | Positive

I have always wanted to know what this beautiful butterfly is called, after a quick search on the computer I finally found out that this is what its called. very few times if ever, maybe twice in my life, have i seen them with small red spots at the bottom of they're wings, and never have i seen any purple on them, only beautiful irridescent blue and black, so why do they call it a Red Spotted Purple? mike.

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IvoryBill

Magnolia, TX | June 2010 | Positive

This Butterfly is gorgeous!!! The pictures never do it justice.

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tabasco

Cincinnati (Anderson Twp), OH (Zone 6a) | June 2009 | Positive

We have RSPs visiting once in a while in our yard. I think they range out of our neighboring forests into our yard to look for spots to bask in the sun, animal scat and rotten fruit. Most recently we found one perched on an Oakleaf Hydrangea for much of an afternoon.

Their host plants common in Ohio include black cherry, poplars and aspen. They typically have two broods a year and pass the winter in the larval stage in our region . (Ohio DNR 'Common Butterflies & Skippers of Ohio' p.45)

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ClanCampbell

(Chris) Des Moines, IA (Zone 5a) | December 2008 | Positive

I found mine in 2007, just sitting on our screened in porch. It allowed me to take several close ups before flying off.
The picture doesn't do justice to the brilliant color!

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DATURA12

Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) | October 2008 | Positive

I found this beauty resting on my gardenia. According to NABA this butterfly is uncommon in my area.

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aggscott

Wilkes Barre, PA (Zone 6a) | April 2008 | Positive

I get alot of these guys around my area with the Willow they leave eggs on..it is the only place I have ever found eggs around here. They are easy to raise as long as they have fresh leaves.
Loves older fruit and sap.

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Malus2006

Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | February 2008 | Positive

I saw a few last year - they're rather uncommon here in Minnesota. They seem to like woodland environment, doesn't seem to venture much in the open. Can be mistaken easily for black swallowtails.

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Magpye

NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a) | August 2006 | Neutral

The Red-Spotted Purple is one of the butterflies that gains protection from mimicking the Pipevine Swallowtail. In spite of the lack of 'tails' .. its coloration is similar enough, that it is considered a mimic.

Its common name refers to the red spots on its wing undersides.

Its larvae feed on several types of trees including willow and cherry. The adult can be attracted by putting out rotting fruit.

Red-spotted Purple

Limenitisarthemis astyanax

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