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red spotted purple
Plimenitis arthemis
Identification: Wingspan 2 1/4 - 4 inches. Upperside is blue to blue-green with much iridescence on the outer part of the hindwing. Underside is dark brown. Forewing has 2 red-orange bars near the base of the leading edge; hindwing has 3 red-orange spots near the base and a submarginal row of red-orange spots. The two forms hybridize where their ranges overlap, creating various intermediate forms which may be found in or near the overlap zone.
Habitat: Usually found in deciduous or mixed forests, moist uplands, valley bottoms, and coastal plains.
Garden Habit: Males perch 3 feet or more above the ground on trees and tall bushes and rarely patrol for females. Eggs are laid singly on tips of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Host Plants: Leaves of many species of trees and shrubs including wild cherry, black cherry, aspen, poplar, cottonwood, oaks, hawthorn, birch, willow, basswood, and shadbush.
Identification: Wingspan 2 1/4 - 4 inches. Upperside is blue to blue-green with much iridescence on the outer part of the hindwing. Underside is dark brown. Forewing has 2 red-orange bars near the base of the leading edge; hindwing has 3 red-orange spots near the base and a submarginal row of red-orange spots. The two forms hybridize where their ranges overlap, creating various intermediate forms which may be found in or near the overlap zone.
Habitat: Usually found in deciduous or mixed forests, moist uplands, valley bottoms, and coastal plains.
Garden Habit: Males perch 3 feet or more above the ground on trees and tall bushes and rarely patrol for females. Eggs are laid singly on tips of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Host Plants: Leaves of many species of trees and shrubs including wild cherry, black cherry, aspen, poplar, cottonwood, oaks, hawthorn, birch, willow, basswood, and shadbush.