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Limenitis arthemis astyanax
The upperside of L. a. astyanax is very much like L. a. arthemis except it lacks the broad white bands. The forewing submarginal area on this specimen has a row of red spots. The hindwings has bright iridescent blue. This species has evolved to mimic the poisonous pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor).
Spotted at Lake Catherine State Park sunning on a rock in a dry creek bed. Mixed forest all around. Unlike most butterflies the Red-Spotted Purple prefers to be in deciduous forest or at the forest edge often in shady areas.
2 Comments
Thank you DrNamgyalT.Sherpa.
Simply beautiful!