# Admiral Butterfly (*Limenitis arthemis*) The Admiral Butterfly has dark wings with bright orange spots. It loves to flutter around flowers and trees! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 83 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and gardens - **Also known as:** Red-spotted Admiral, White Admiral ![Admiral Butterfly](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425849/objects/5550.jpg) ## Appearance The Admiral Butterfly has dark, velvety wings often adorned with a prominent white band, which can vary by subspecies. Some subspecies also feature striking blue or reddish-orange spots. Its elegant appearance helps it stand out from other forest butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Limenitis ## Interesting facts - Admiral caterpillars build a tiny "frass chain" from their droppings to disguise their resting perch! - Some Admiral Butterfly caterpillars mimic bird droppings to fool predators during their early stages. - The Red-spotted Purple, a subspecies, cleverly mimics a toxic butterfly to avoid being eaten! - Unlike many butterflies, adult Admirals also enjoy sipping moisture and minerals from damp soil. ## Special abilities - **Chilling Camouflage:** Admiral Butterfly caterpillars can blend perfectly with twigs by decorating themselves with bits of frass, helping them hide from hungry birds. - **Swift Wing Dodge:** Admiral Butterflies can perform rapid, erratic flight patterns, allowing them to quickly escape from predators like birds. - **Liquid Sips:** Admiral Butterflies have a straw-like proboscis that helps them sip nectar from flowers and nutrients from tree sap or rotting fruit. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-80 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-21 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on tree leaves, while adults sip sweet nectar, sap, and other liquids. - **Age differences:** Young caterpillars eat fresh leaves, while adult butterflies use their straw-like proboscis to sip liquids. - **Primary Foods:** Tree leaves (birch, willow, poplar), Flower nectar, Tree sap, Rotting fruit, Bird droppings - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Paper Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paper-birch) (*Betula papyrifera*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this tree. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Adults and caterpillars are a food source for birds. - **Depends on:** [Black Willow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-willow) (*Salix nigra*) — Another host plant providing leaves for the caterpillars to eat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Admiral Butterfly? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Admiral Butterfly's wingspan? 50-80 mm ### How big is Admiral Butterfly? 25-35 mm ### How long does Admiral Butterfly live? 10-21 days ### How fast can Admiral Butterfly fly? 25 km/h ### What does Admiral Butterfly eat? Caterpillars munch on tree leaves, while adults sip sweet nectar, sap, and other liquids. ### Where is Admiral Butterfly usually found? Woodlands and gardens ### How does Admiral Butterfly hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bellefontaine Cemetery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellefontaine-cemetery) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Admiral Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/admiral-butterfly) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Admiral Butterfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/admiral-butterfly)