Red-spotted Purple ventral

  • Family name: Nymphalidae/Brush-Footed Butterflies
  • General description: Black; hindwind with iridescent blue scaling along outer margin; ventral hindwing dull brown-black with orange basal spots and a postmedian band of prominent orange spots
  • Field Marks: Black; hindwing with iridescent blue along outer margin; ventral hindwing brown-black with prominent orange spots.

Red-spotted Purple

  • Sexes: Appear similar
  • Wingspan: 75-100 mm
  • Life Cycle: Egg: Green, laid singly on the tip of host leaves Mature larva: Green-brown with white markings, a white saddle and a pair of knobby tubercles off the thorax Chrysalis: Mottled brown and white
  • Number of Generations: Two or three generations

Red-spotted Purple larva

  • Flight Season: All year
  • Abundance: Common
  • Habitat: Deciduous forest margins and openings, woodland trails, utility easements, stream corridors, parks
  • Larval Host Plants: Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina), Deerberry (Vaccinius staminiun), Carolina Willow (Salix caroliniana)
  • Similar Species: Pipevine Swallowtail
  • Additional Information: Mimics distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail; adults visit rotting fruit, dung, and sap flows.
  • Range in Florida

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