Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus
Order:  Lepidoptera
Family:  Nymphalidae
Diet:  Host plants are willow and aspen.
Vegetation Association:  Can be found around their main larval foods.
Predators:  Birds prey on them to some degree despite their bitter taste.  In the chrysalis stage they resemble bird droppings which helps deter predation.
Life Stages:  Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes:  Young caterpillars feed and shed their skin, or molt.  The final molt produces the pupa, and then the butterfly rests.  Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is pumped into its wings, the wings then are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for food and a mate.  This butterfly mimics the Queen or Monarch which helps to deter predators. 

Photos: to be added.

To return to species list, close or minimize this window.