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Red-spotted Purple

Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Photo by PamG
Published on Project Noah
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38.86, -77.474

Field Notes

Description:

Black body. Black wings with white dots with blue & orange markings.

Habitat:

Found on a rotten apple under an apple tree in my yard in Northern Virginia.

Notes:

I thought this was some sort of swallowtail, but it doesn't have the long "tails" on the bottom of its wings.

Species ID Suggestions

Red-spotted Purple

Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Reference Link
ForestDragon
4

Comments (2)
PamG
Awesome! Thanks ForestDragon! I'm so glad to finally know the name of the beautiful butterflies that have been flying around my yard for years. They are a joy to watch!
ForestDragon
Hi Pam, great spotting! The Red-spotted Purple is a Pipevine Swallowtail mimic, so it isn't surprising that you thought what you did initially! Your acute observations helped you to see through the disguise :).

Spotted for Missions

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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 10, 2013

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