Red Spotted Purple butterfly "Limenitis Arthemis" from Eden of Wings, FL

Wingspan: 2 1/4" to 4"

A red spotted purple butterfly also know as the White Admiral butterfly in North America can look dramatically different, depending on where it is. In fact, it used to be considered two separate species. Now we know that red spotted purples just have regional variation. In South, red spotted purples look like the one below. Using mimicry to avoid predators, the coloration is similar to the bad tasting pipevine swallowtail. In North, they're often called "white admirals" and have black wings with a broad white stripe in middle,  see second picture.

Red spotted purple caterpillars are brown and white and resemble bird dropping. See last picture below. There are one or two generations each year. The third install of the late summer generation uses a silk thread to roll up in a leaf and hibernate through winter.

If you are looking for these host plants. You can find them at our nursery "Eden of Wings" 1036 Enterprise Ostend Rd. or order them at www.edenofwings.com 

What are the Host plants for Red Spotted Purple butterfly?

* Tilia Americana "Carolina basswood"

* Prunus Americana " American plum"

* Prunus angustifolia " Chickasaw plum"

* Punus Caroliniana "Cherry Laurel"

* Prunus Serotina "black cherry"

* Prunus umbellata " flatwoods plum"

* Populus Deltoides " Eastern cottonwood"

* Salix Caroliniana "coastal plain willow"

* Salix Floridana " Florida willow"