Limenitis astyanax (Red-spotted Purple)
Limenitis astyanax , also called Red-spotted Purple is a butterfly from Nearctic ecozone (North America). The first description was in 1775 by Fabricius. With a wingspan of 7.5 – 8.5 cm the Red-spotted Purple is a small member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The butterfly is dark brown with some red spots on upside.
Photos for easy identification
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer
- Photo © by Thomas Neubauer
These are nice photos of Limenitis astyanax (Red-spotted Purple). Limenitis astyanax is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Nearctic (North America).
Description
The forewings are dark brown. At the margin there is a chain of little white spots.
The underside is dark purple, but the pinion is dark brown. At the margin there are two chains of little white spots. Nearby the body there are two red spots.
The hind wings are dark brown. There is a broad blue area going backwards. There is a black line crossing the blue area.
The underside is dark purple. At the margin there are two chains of little white spots an one chain of big red spots. Nearby the body there are three red spots.
The body is black.
Sex differences: None.
Distribution
The Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis astyanax) is a butterfly of the Nearctic ecozone (North America) and the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution include whole North America and extend to Panama.
- This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.
Larval food
Poplar (Populus), Willow (Salix) and Betula, Crataegus
General information
The first description of this butterfly was in 1775 by Fabricius. There are only two subspecies.
- Limenitis astyanax arizonensis [Edwards, 1882]
- Limenitis astyanax rubrofasciata [Barnes & McDunnough, 1916]
The caterpillar is mimic excrements of birds and has two thorny warts. The pupa has no silken girdl.
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005) - EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora
-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005) - IUCN Red List of threatened species:
-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)
Similar and closely-related species
Limenitis archippus [Cramer, 1775] (Viceroy)
Scientific name
Limenitis astyanax Fabricius 1775
Synonym
Red-spotted Purple
Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree
- Kingdom: ANIMALIA
- Phylum: ARTHROPODA
- Class: INSECTA
- Order: LEPIDOPTERA
- Suborder: DITRYSIA
- Superfamily: PAPILIONOIDAE
- Family: NYMPHALIDAE
- Subfamilie: LIMENITIDINAE
- Tribe: LIMENITIDINI
- Genus: LIMENITIS
- Specific name: ASTYANAX
To the family tree (Genus: LIMENITIS)...
Ecozone
Back to family Nymphalidae from NEARCTIC (NORTH AMERICA)
