Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis (Fabricius, 1775) astyanax    Synonyms: Basilarchia arthemis, Red-spotted Admiral.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Nymphalidae   >   Genus Limenitis   

Status:

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) is the southern form of L. arthemis, a widespread species of admiral. Most species in the genus have prominent white bands on the wings, and indeed, the northern form of this species, called the White Admiral (L. arthemis arthemis) still does show this ancestral state. The Red-spotted Purple, however, has evolved as part of a Batesian mimcry complex, where a harmless mimic resembles a harmful model. In this case, it gains a measure of protection from predators by resembling the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). A number of other butterflies within the range also resemble the Pipevine for the same reason. This butterfly is common across Maryland, and is often seen basking on the ground, where it is susceptible to being struck by vehicles.

Relationships:

Host plants include American Basswood.

There are 1,348 records in the project database.

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A Red-spotted Purple in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/1/2012). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Charles Co., Maryland (8/27/2018). Photo by William Wise. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Washington Co., Maryland (5/25/2019). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Wicomico Co., Maryland (6/3/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Howard Co., Maryland (7/19/2012). Photo by Annette Allor. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/4/2020). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/10/2022). Photo by Lydia Fravel. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Carroll Co., Maryland (5/22/2013). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/3/2011). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/4/2016). Photo by Andy Wilson. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/9/2019). Photo by Martha Johnston. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple found by students at Jemicy School in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/31/2013). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Carroll Co., Maryland (9/2/2020). (c) fiammazzurra, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by fiammazzurra via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/11/2015). (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by botanygirl via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/14/2013). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/3/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/10/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/8/2014). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple larva in Harford Co., Maryland (6/26/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A late-instar Red-spotted Purple caterpillar in Wicomico Co., Maryland (5/3/2015). Photo by Rick Borchelt. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (4/25/2020). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/2/1988). (c) Norbert Kondla, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Norbert Kondla via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple larva in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/10/2017). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple larva in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/10/2017). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple in Howard Co., Maryland (9/1/2019). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (4/27/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Charles Co., Maryland (8/19/2021). (c) smuller, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/4/2022). (c) Karen Elizabeth, all rights reserved. Photo by Karen Elizabeth via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Red-spotted Purple in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/6/2023). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple caterpillar in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/3/2018). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple pupa in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/31/2019). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Red-spotted Purple collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/22/2001). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)


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