Red-Spotted Purple
(Limenitis arthemis)

Common throughout the summer months red-spotted purples can be found in gardens and forest openings. Dogwood and black cherry are reported to be the primary adult food source, but we have observed this species at a variety of flowers. The butterfly in the photo on the right is perched on a portion of a deer hindlimb. This butterfly spent considerable time on and around the decaying deer carcass. It may have been taking moisture and nutrients from the surrounding soil and perhaps carcass. The red-spotted purple resembles the pipevine swallowtail but can be distinguished by the lack of tails and the large red spots on both the ventral fore and hindwings. Because of its similarity to the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail the Red-Spotted Purple is less likely to be preyed upon in areas where both occur together.