Red-Spotted Purple

(AKA Banded Purple, Red-spotted Admiral) The Red-spotted Purple is a relatively common butterfly. It is typically found in deciduous or mixed forests, moist uplands, valley bottoms, and coastal plains.

  • Alder – Alnus spp

    Basswood -- Tilia americana

    Beech – Fagus spp

    Birch – Betula spp

    Elm – Ulmus spp

    Hawthorn – Crataegus spp

    Hornbeam – Carpinus caroliniana

    Oak – Quercus spp

    Pine – Pinus spp

    Populus spp

    Prunus spp

    Serciveberry – Amelanchier spp

    • Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

    • Common serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

    • Inland serviceberry (Amelanchier interior)

    • Roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea)

    • Running serviceberry (Amelanchier stolonifera)

    Sweet crab apple (Malus coronaria)

    Vaccinium spp

    • Blue Ridge blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum)

    • Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

    • Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

    Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

    • Velvetleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides)

    Willow – Salix spp

  • Apple – Malus spp

    Pear – Pyrus spp

  • Aphid honeydew, carrion, dung, rotting fruit, tree sap

    Dogbane, Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, Spiraea, Staghorn, Sumac, Thistle, Viburnum

  • Brazilian Verbena, Butterfly Bush (make sure you use a sterile variety), Pentas, Privet

  • April-October. Two broods each year. Last brood overwinters

  • Butterflies and Moths of North America. Butterfliesandmoths.org

    Brenda Dziedzic, Raising Butterflies in the Garden

    Heather Holm, Pollinators of Native Plants

    National Wildlife Federation. Nwf.org

    Xerces Society. Xerces.org