Species Details

Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameWhite Admiral SeasonalityOne annual brood, peak flight period from mid June to late July. IdentificationSimilar to our other two species of true admirals (Limenitis). The White lacks the rust-coloured forewing tips of Lorquin's (L. lorquini), and has a row of reddish spots bordering the outside of the hindwing white band. Their ranges overlap only in the Waterton - Crowsnest region, where hybrid individuals exhibiting characters intermediate between the White and Lorquin's are sometimes found. L. arthemis also has more orange on the hindwing upperside than Weidemeyer's (L. weidemeyerii), and has a red-brown hindwing underside base rather than predominantly white. Hybrids between these two species sometimes also occur. The western Canadian populations are subspecies rubrofasciata.

Scientific Name Limenitis arthemis Common Name White Admiral Habitat Common in shrubby and wooded areas throughout the province. Seasonality One annual brood, peak flight period from mid June to late July. Identification
Similar to our other two species of true admirals (Limenitis). The White lacks the rust-coloured forewing tips of Lorquin's (L. lorquini), and has a row of reddish spots bordering the outside of the hindwing white…
Similar to our other two species of true admirals (Limenitis). The White lacks the rust-coloured forewing tips of Lorquin's (L. lorquini), and has a row of reddish spots bordering the outside of the hindwing white band. Their ranges overlap only in the Waterton - Crowsnest region, where hybrid individuals exhibiting characters intermediate between the White and Lorquin's are sometimes found. L. arthemis also has more orange on the hindwing upperside than Weidemeyer's (L. weidemeyerii), and has a red-brown hindwing underside base rather than predominantly white. Hybrids between these two species sometimes also occur. The western Canadian populations are subspecies rubrofasciata.
Life History
The pale green eggs are round and sculptured (Guppy &Shepard 2001). Second instar larvae construct a shelter out of a partially rolled-up leaf base with silk, and hibernate inside this structure (Guppy & Shepard…
The pale green eggs are round and sculptured (Guppy &Shepard 2001). Second instar larvae construct a shelter out of a partially rolled-up leaf base with silk, and hibernate inside this structure (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Mature larvae bear a remarkable resemblance to a bird dropping when resting on a leaf, since they are splotchy white and grey brown in colour (Guppy & Shepard 2001) and have a shiny look to them. There are usually five instars, but in BC, male larvae may occasionally 'fast-track' and pupate the same season after only four instars (Guppy & Shepard 2001), forming a partial second brood in late summer and early fall. This phenomenon may also account for August and September records in Alberta (Bird et al. 1995). Adult males perch in shrubs and trees, occasionally patrolling along forest edges, and fly out to investigate other butterflies passing by.
Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info Larvae have been recorded primarily from poplars and willows (Salicaceae) (Layberry et al. 1998), although no particular species have been noted for Alberta. Adults are more fond of carrion and scat than flowers. Range Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to Florida and eastern Texas. In the range roughly south of the Canadian border, this species looks very different, and is known as the Red-spotted Purple (L. arthemis astyanax).
Limenitis arthemis
Limenitis arthemis

Citation

Page Citation for Limenitis arthemis

Page Citation

"Species Details - Limenitis arthemis, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2651. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Schmidt, B. C.
Role species page author

References

Specimen Information

There are 20 specimens of this Species.

20 results plotted on map in 12 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

BIRD10611 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rocky Mountain House Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-07-05

UASM211117 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Michigan, Luce county Collected ByHoke, E. Date Collected1991-06-07

UASM211118 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Michigan, Luce county Collected ByHoke, E. Date Collected1991-06-09

UASM211119 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Michigan, Luce county Collected ByHoke, E. Date Collected1991-06-08

UASM211120 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Vermont, Orange county, Thetford Collected ByClayton, R. Date Collected1980-06-20

UASM211121 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Vermont, Orange county, Thetford Collected ByClayton, R. Date Collected1980-06-20

UASM211122 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Vermont, Orange county, Thetford Collected ByClayton, R. Date Collected1980-06-20

UASM211123 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Michigan, Luce county Collected ByHoke, E. Date Collected1991-06-07

UASM211124 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Michigan, Luce county Collected ByHoke, E. Date Collected1991-06-06

UASM211125 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1984-07-11

UASM211126 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Water Valley Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1982-07-21

UASM211127 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cochrane Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1982-07-21

UASM211128 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cremona Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1982-07-21

UASM211129 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cremona Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1981-07-22

UASM211130 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1976-07-13

UASM211131 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Skeleton Lake Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1986-06-29

UASM211132 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Skeleton Lake Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1986-06-30

UASM211133 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Collected ByAnderson, R. L. Date Collected1976-07-13

BIRD34932 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Stettler Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2011-07-06

CBCC1449 - Limenitis arthemis

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Moose Lake Provincial Park Collected ByChristensen, C. B. Date Collected2005-06-24

Adult Seasonal Distribution