Red-spotted Purple

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.

Habitat:

This one was obtaining minerals from a muddy area in a gravel parking lot, but they are commonly found in deciduous forest margins and openings, woodland trails, utility easements, stream corridors, parks.

Notes:

The Red-Spotted Purple mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor.) The White Admiral, Western White Admiral and the Arizona Red-Spotted Purple are are very closely related. This is my 300th spotting.