Sunday, August 20, 2006

Any Butterfly Experts Among Us?


I am wondering if this is a male and a female of the same species. I think they are black swallowtail butterflies. I would guess the one with white to be the male as it's a more flashy butterfly.

Update: I've been searching the net and now believe that the white-striped butterfly is a White Admiral(Limenitis arthemis arthemis). It's so difficult trying to identify these as so many look so alike.

2 comments:

  1. I have the same problem with butterflies. I find something that almost looks like the one I have, but I am never sure. These two are both new to me.

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  2. The one on top is a Red Spotted Purple and the one below is a White Admiral. They are subspecies of the same species. They hybridize and intergrade so that all possible combinations of the traits of the two subspecies can be found. Generally any you see with white banding would be considered White Admirals.

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