I was fortunate yesterday to capture photos of this Red-Spotted Purple butterfly in a sandy area near the porch. I have tried on a number of occasions to photograph this beauty, but it has eluded me for two years. Finally I was able to get the photos. Florida has so many wonderful butterflies!
The red-spotted purple is a beautiful suburban woodland and forest butterfly. Also known in fancy terms as the Limenitis arthemis astyanax. Once thought to be quite rare in North central Florida, they began mating with a butterfly in Georgia known as a Viceroy butterfly. The result was a hybrid which resulted in increased populations of this beauty.
Adults like to feed on tree sap, fermenting fruit, or “dung”, but they do occasionally take nectar from flowers, and drink from mud puddles.
Source for additional information
Guess why I was able to get such great shots of this elusive red-purple, it was feasting on chicken poo. I got lots of that here at “Fuss & Feathers” homestead!
Photos taken by @mother2chicks 2018
