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Red-spotted Purple cross-breeds with the White Admiral to produce partially banded offspring. Lepidopterists now know these two very different forms, once been considered separate species, are in fact the same species.
With a wing span that ranges 4.7 - 10.1 cm, the Red-spotted Purple is black with brilliant blue iridescent patches on the edge of its wings. There are several red spots on the forewing tips. Its underside is brownish-black with red spots.
In the Algonquin Highlands, you will find them from June through August or September, in forest edges, meadows, open woodland areas, shorelines, and roadsides. Adults favour foods are sap of Cherry and Oak trees, rotting fruit and dung, rarely on flower nectar.
Eggs are laid singly on tips of leaves of Aspens, Cherry, Oaks, Poplars and Willows and others. The larva is white with grayish-brown areas, resembling a bird dropping when it sits on a leaf. The caterpillar is cream-coloured, humped, dark-saddled and mottled, with 2 large brush-like bristles behind its head.
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RED-SPOTTED PURPLE
Limenitis arthemis astyanax
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