Limenitis arthemis arizonensis

The Red-spotted Admiral has three varieties of subspecies in North America. The purple subspecies shown in this post is split into two distinct groups. Limenitis arthemis arizonensis is found in the southwest throughout Mexico’s border with Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona along riparian desert corridors. Limenitis arthemis astyanax is found throughout wooded areas in the midwest and southestern parts of the United States including east Texas. The two groups of the purple subspecies look identical to one another. The white subspecies, which looks quite different from the purple subspecies, is found in Canada.

The upper sides of the wings area black that fade into iridescent blue. The underside of the wings have clear red-orange spots.

I found the Red-spotted Admiral in almost every spot I visited in a recent trip to Fort Davis, Texas. It was always in the trees.

Similar species: Pipevine Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail