Also known as Red-spotted Purple, White Admiral, Banded Purple
Red-spotted Admirals exhibit one of the most famous examples of wing-pattern polymorphism in North American butterflies, split between northern white-banded forms and southern iridescent blue forms that mimic toxic pipevine swallowtails. Adults spend their days gliding gracefully along forest edges, frequently settling on tree bark or damp soil rather than visiting flowers. Caterpillars disguise themselves as unappetizing bird droppings while feeding on the foliage of birches, cherries, and willows.
