White Admiral

Written By Kathyrn Major
Black and white patterned butterfly with small blue dots resting on purple flower

Limenitis arthemis

Wingspan: 2 7/8-3 1/8″. Above: black with white band across both wings. Below: dark brown with white bands and row of brick-red spots. Overwinters as a young caterpillar in a rolled-up leaf secured to a twig by silk.

  • The White Admiral will often hybridize with Red-spotted Purple butterfly.

Habitat: Open woodlands, forest edges, and roadsides.

Larval food plants: Birch, aspen, poplar, willow, hawthorn, basswood, amelanchier.

Adult food: Rotting fruit, sap, dung, carrion, aphid honeydew, and nectar from various flowers.

Kathyrn Major
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