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Red-spotted Purple
Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly Coloration and Size
The Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) butterfly is black with blue or blue-screen scaling. It features orange or red marks on the tips of the wings.
At first glance, it appears to be a swallowtail. But it has no tails! It does mimic the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail.
The size of the Red-spotted Purple is typically in the 3.0" - 3.5" range. It normally produces 2-3 broods per year.
Distribution and Habitat
The Red-spotted Purple butterfly is normally seen in the Eastern United States, from the Gulf Coast to southern Canada.
It is not an abundant species, and is most often seen in woodlands and along streams and marsh land. It often lands high in trees, but will drop to ground level to feed and sip at mud puddles and stream banks.
Nectar and Host Plants Used by the Red-spotted Purple
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.
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly Life Cycle Stages and Times
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Photos of Red-spotted Purple Butterflies
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly (dorsal view)
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly (ventral view) |
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Red-spotted Purple Butterfly
Red-spotted Purple Butterfly ... a regular visitor to our hummingbird feeder!
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| Red-spotted Purple Charlotte, Michigan (Photo by Elli, August 9, 2022  |