White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis arthemis
Description 2 7/8-3 1/8" (73-79 mm). Fairly large. Coal-black with milk-white band across middle of wings above and below. Often has blue or blue-green iridescence above, especially on HW. Above, brick-red spots may occur in row between HW band and marginal row of blue crescent-shaped marks. Below, red spot row is expanded; prominent brick-red spots alternate with blue spots at wing bases. All red markings more pronounced in western populations.
Similar Species Weidemeyer's Admiral lacks blue reflections above and red below; its range rarely overlaps.
Life Cycle Egg compressed, oval. Caterpillar mottled off-white, olive, and greenish-yellow, with enlarged, light hump behind head; hump has long, dark bristles. Chrysalis cream-colored with enlarged wing cases and a darker, projecting mid-back "saddle horn."
Host plants include birches (Betula), willows (Salix), poplars (Populus), occasionally hawthorns (Crataegus), and some other hardwood trees and shrubs.
Flight 1 or 2 broods; June-August.
Habitat Deciduous forest borders and glades.
Range Northeast from Manitoba and Minnesota to New York and Maine; also from Alaska southeast through British Columbia.
Discussion Before winter, when admiral caterpillars finish feeding for the year, they secure themselves within the rolled-up, silk-tied bases of leaves. In spring, ravenous caterpillars emerge to complete their development. All adult admirals alternately sail and flap, darting out at insects or other interlopers in their territories. They also perch on leaves, twigs, or other prominences, taking aphid honeydew or liquids from flowers and carrion. This and related species were formerly included in the Old World genus Limenitis.
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