Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis): Up Close And Personal


August 31st, 2012. While we were looking for wildflowers below the dam at Fox Lake in the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in the Clybel Wildlife Management Area, I almost trod on a Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) butterfly that had settled on a grass stem a few inches above the ground. I was able to pull the grass stem without disturbing the butterfly.


 From above

A closer view of the top of the head with two white, triangular spots

The underside

A closer view

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Closer views of the head

We left it sunning itself on a leaf.
Click on an image to view a closer image

Identification resources:
- Butterflies and Moths of North America: Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
- BugGuide: Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) [dorsal] [ventral] 

Related posts:
- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)

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