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Lorquin's Admiral

Limenitis lorquini

Lorquin's Admiral is a beautiful butterfly with striking black and orange wings. They flutter around in gardens and forests, adding color to nature's canvas.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Lorquin's Admiral has deep brown to black wings featuring a prominent creamy-white band across the middle of both forewings and hindwings. Its forewing tips display patches of warm orange-brown, making it distinct from similar dark butterflies with white bands.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusLimenitis
Lorquin's Admiral
solitary trait badgecamouflaged trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Lorquin's Admiral

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

22

Interesting facts

Adult Lorquin's Admirals don't eat solid food, they sip liquids with a straw-like tongue!

Lorquin's Admiral is named after Pierre Lorquin, a French naturalist who explored California.

They can sometimes be seen 'puddling' – gathering to drink minerals from damp soil.

This butterfly's caterpillar looks exactly like bird poop to fool hungry predators!

Special abilities

Ability

Winged Glider

Lorquin's Admiral can glide effortlessly on air currents because of its broad wings, which helps them save energy while flying long distances.

Ability

Winter Napper

Lorquin's Admiral has the ability to overwinter as a small caterpillar because they halt development until spring, which helps them survive cold temperatures.

Ability

Taste Tester Legs

Lorquin's Admiral can taste with its feet because of special sensors, which helps them find the best nectar flowers or host plants for their eggs.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
55-70 mm
Size
20-30 mm
Lifespan
7-21 days
Flight Speed
15-25 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Caterpillars munch on leaves, while adults sip nectar, tree sap, and juices from ripe fruits.

Age differences: Larvae feed on leaves, while adults exclusively consume liquids like nectar, sap, and fruit juices.

Primary Foods

  • Willow leaves
  • Poplar leaves
  • Aspen leaves
  • Nectar
  • Tree sap
  • Rotting fruit

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

depends on

Sandbar Willow

Salix exigua

Larvae feed on its leaves for growth and development.

depends on

Quaking Aspen

Populus tremuloides

A crucial host plant for the caterpillars of this butterfly.

eaten by

Steller's Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri

This bird preys on both the caterpillars and adult butterflies.

eaten by

Flower Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Ambushes adults visiting flowers, a common predator.

pollinates

Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Adults visit its flowers for nectar, aiding in pollination.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch butterflies from a distance so they feel safe and happy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Lorquin's Admiral?

The easiest way to identify Lorquin's Admiral is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Lorquin's Admiral's wingspan?

55-70 mm

How big is Lorquin's Admiral?

20-30 mm

How long does Lorquin's Admiral live?

7-21 days

How fast can Lorquin's Admiral fly?

15-25 km/h

What does Lorquin's Admiral eat?

Caterpillars munch on leaves, while adults sip nectar, tree sap, and juices from ripe fruits.

Where is Lorquin's Admiral usually found?

Forests

How does Lorquin's Admiral hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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