Red-spotted purple
Limenitis arthemis astyanax
Butterfly
Iridescent blue-black brushfoot butterfly of eastern North American woodlands and a Batesian mimic of the distasteful pipevine swallowtail, which gives it protection from predators despite being edible itself. Larvae feed on the foliage of woody plants, with black cherry (Prunus serotina) among the most-used hosts; willows (Salix), aspens and cottonwoods (Populus), and deerberry are also documented hosts. Unlike most garden butterflies, adults rarely visit flowers, instead feeding at tree sap flows, rotting fruit, and dung - so supporting this species is about larval host trees rather than nectar plantings.
Conservation
NatureServe global status: Secure (G5). No IUCN Red List or US federal (USFWS) listing - a common, widespread species across its range.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
6 essential relationships / 0 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 6
Forage/pollination links: 0
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Black cherry
Essential / Larval host plants
Black willow
Essential / Larval host plants
Chokecherry
Essential / Larval host plants
Eastern cottonwood
Essential / Larval host plants
Fremont cottonwood
Essential / Larval host plants
The Red-spotted Purple record documents Populus hosts including aspens and cottonwoods; Fremont cottonwood is Populus fremontii, a native riparian Populus already used for related brushfoot host links.
Pussy willow
Essential / Larval host plants
The Red-spotted Purple record documents willows (Salix) among its larval host trees; pussy willow is Salix discolor, so this native willow now participates in the reverse lookup.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 8
The Red-spotted Purple record documents Populus hosts including aspens and cottonwoods; Fremont cottonwood is Populus fremontii, a native riparian Populus already used for related brushfoot host links.
The Red-spotted Purple record documents willows (Salix) among its larval host trees; pussy willow is Salix discolor, so this native willow now participates in the reverse lookup.
Range
Eastern North America: the astyanax (red-spotted purple) form ranges broadly across the eastern and central United States, roughly from New England and the southern Great Lakes south to central Florida and west to central Texas, generally south of the white-admiral form with which it intergrades.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/red-spotted-purple
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Red-spotted purple / white admiral
Species profile for range, host trees, adult feeding, and red-spotted-purple/white-admiral complex context.
MDC Field Guide: Red-spotted purple
State agency species account used for identification detail, larval and adult food, and life-cycle timing. Missouri-scoped, so it is not cited for continental range.
Wikipedia: Limenitis arthemis
Corroborating reference for astyanax form, mimicry, host trees, and secure conservation context.
GBIF: Limenitis arthemis astyanax
GBIF matches the subspecies Limenitis arthemis astyanax exactly (key 5714327), treated as a synonym of Limenitis astyanax in its backbone.
iNaturalist: Limenitis arthemis astyanax
iNaturalist matches the subspecies Limenitis arthemis astyanax exactly (taxon 58585).