Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis
Last reviewed: June 2026
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral is known for its dark blue-black wings with white bands and red spots.
Host plants
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).
- Black Willow (Salix nigra)
- Canoe Birch (Betula papyrifera)
- American Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
- Rum Cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)
Want Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral in your yard? Open Black Willow in Pollinator Patch and plan an HOA-friendly garden around it for your region.
Family
Nymphalidae
Wingspan
63–90 mm
Active
June through August
Range
WI, AK, AL, AR and 38 more states
How to identify it
Look for a dark butterfly with white or blue-black wings and distinct red or orange spots near the wing margins.
Good to know
- Some individuals are dark blue-black with red spots, mimicking toxic species
- This butterfly has two distinct color morphs that can look like different species
- Larvae are cryptic and resemble bird droppings as a defense mechanism
Common questions
- What do Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral caterpillars eat?
- Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral caterpillars feed on Salix nigra, Betula papyrifera, Populus tremuloides, Prunus serotina, and Betula lenta. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.
- Where do Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral live?
- Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral is found across WI, AK, AL, AR and 38 more states.
- When are Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral active?
- Adult Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral are typically on the wing from June through August.
Range and life-history data compiled from iNaturalist, GBIF, and the Xerces Society. Photo licensed cc-by-nc.