**Limenitis arthemis astyanax
Status: Breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: The upper wing surface is black with marginal banding and with the outer half of the hind wing being iridescent blue. The under surface has orange-red spots along the margin with several spots near the body.
Distribution and habitat: This butterfly is common throughout the state in variety of open and wooded habitats.
Natural History: Larvae consume a large variety of forest trees, including wild cherry, popular, aspen, and oak. Because of apparent limited genetic exchange with occasional white admirals that stray into Iowa, many red-spotted purples demonstrate a slight development of the white banding, especially on the under surface.
**
**Limenitis arthemis arthemis
Status: Northern stray.
Distinguishing features: This black butterfly has a bold white band running postmedially down both wings.
Distribution and habitat: Very rare northern stray found in the northern tier of counties, where it has been seen in a variety of open or partially wooded sites.
Natural History: Within its breeding range, larvae consume a large variety of forest trees, including wild cherry, popular, aspen, and oak. Most Iowa specimens of are referable to the form proserpina which demonstrates various degrees of expression of the white band, and lacks submarginal red spots on the hindwing. Such individuals are intermediate with the red-spotted purple, and it is doubtful that pure individuals of this subspecies penetrate as far south as Iowa.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
393866 | 2024-09-16 | Voas Nature Area | Iowa | 41.757494 -94.05544 | IBSN | 1 |
393865 | 2024-09-11 | F. W. Kent Park | Iowa | 41.726926 -91.737745 | IBSN | 1 |
393864 | 2024-09-09 | Brown's Woods | Iowa | 41.54237 -93.70455 | IBSN | 1 |
374433 | 2024-08-31 | Codfish Hollow Prairie | Iowa | 42.073801 -90.56554 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
393863 | 2024-08-29 | Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge | Iowa | 41.239649 -91.124611 | IBSN | 1 |
371133 | 2024-08-21 | Frank Chapman Pellet Memorial Woods | Iowa | 41.429064 -94.982978 | Ed Freese | 1 |
393862 | 2024-08-21 | Cedar View Trail | Iowa | 40.99102 -92.005082 | IBSN | 1 |
393861 | 2024-08-20 | Christiansen Forest Preserve | Iowa | 41.908143 -93.579312 | IBSN | 1 |
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2024-08-18 | Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | Iowa | 40.645925621667 -91.674793618333 | Mark Brown | 1 |
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2024-08-18 | Geode State Park, Henry County | Iowa | 40.823867656667 -91.378304428333 | Mark Brown | 1 |
374432 | 2024-08-18 | Codfish Hollow Prairie | Iowa | 42.073801 -90.56554 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
378231 | 2024-08-18 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.104116 -95.973382 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
374208 | 2024-08-17 | Linn County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Frank Olsen | 1 |
378230 | 2024-08-17 | Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.679143 -96.523488 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
393860 | 2024-08-16 | Reiman Gardens Area, Ames | Iowa | 42.01102 -93.638089 | IBSN | 1 |
378229 | 2024-08-11 | Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit East | Iowa | 40.546129 -91.616172 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
393859 | 2024-08-11 | Moore Park | Iowa | 42.011786 -93.640344 | IBSN | 2 |
378228 | 2024-08-10 | Stephens State Forest- Mine Pond | Iowa | 41.016084 -93.479874 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
393856 | 2024-08-07 | Jester Park | Iowa | 41.786297 -93.788656 | IBSN | 1 |
393857 | 2024-08-07 | F. W. Kent Park | Iowa | 41.726926 -91.737745 | IBSN | 1 |
393858 | 2024-08-07 | F. W. Kent Park | Iowa | 41.726926 -91.737745 | IBSN | 1 |
393855 | 2024-08-04 | Rolling Prairie/Waverly Rail Trail | Iowa | 42.700936 -92.408912 | IBSN | 1 |
378227 | 2024-08-03 | Waubonsie State Park | Iowa | 40.670911 -95.693287 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
393853 | 2024-08-03 | Matsell Bridge Natural Area | Iowa | 42.11759 -91.384618 | IBSN | 1 |
393854 | 2024-08-03 | Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge | Iowa | 41.558683 -93.280422 | IBSN | 1 |
2,775
1
291
2025 | 0 |
2024 | 63 |
2023 | 89 |
2022 | 150 |
2021 | 216 |
2020 | 373 |
2019 | 133 |
2018 | 147 |
2017 | 95 |
2016 | 180 |
2015 | 51 |
2014 | 49 |
2013 | 49 |
2012 | 16 |
2011 | 69 |
2025 | 0 |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 1 |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | 0 |
2020 | 1 |
2019 | 0 |
2018 | 0 |
2017 | 0 |
2016 | 0 |
2015 | 1 |
2014 | 0 |
2013 | 1 |
2012 | 0 |
2011 | 0 |
2025 | 0 |
2024 | 33 |
2023 | 30 |
2022 | 37 |
2021 | 41 |
2020 | 54 |
2019 | 45 |
2018 | 45 |
2017 | 41 |
2016 | 39 |
2015 | 26 |
2014 | 16 |
2013 | 14 |
2012 | 9 |
2011 | 20 |
Site Name | Observations | Last Observation |
---|---|---|
Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit East | 475 | 2024-08-11 |
Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | 185 | 2024-08-18 |
Shimek State Forest, Lick Creek Unit | 173 | 2024-06-09 |
Yellow River State Forest, Paint Creek Unit | 128 | 2024-06-30 |
Cedar View Trail | 81 | 2024-08-21 |
F. W. Kent Park | 79 | 2024-09-11 |
Shimek State Forest Count Circle | 58 | 2018-06-16 |
Rock Island Botanical State Preserve | 53 | 2021-06-22 |
Slip Bluff County Park | 45 | 2023-07-08 |
Reiman Gardens Area, Ames | 40 | 2024-08-16 |
Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area | 40 | 2023-08-15 |
North Liberty | 39 | 2004-07-31 |
Honey Creek State Park | 33 | 2002-07-15 |
Lake MacBride State Park | 32 | 2022-07-23 |
Indian Creek Nature Center | 31 | 2024-05-28 |
Ada Hayden Heritage Park | 30 | 2023-08-16 |
Hawkeye Willdlife Management Area | 30 | 2020-09-13 |
Waubonsie State Park | 27 | 2024-08-03 |
MacBride Nature Recreation Area | 26 | 2023-07-22 |
Westphal Timber, Jones | 26 | 2017-06-18 |
Seed Saver Exchange | 23 | 2019-08-22 |
Turkey Creek Preserve | 22 | 2024-07-28 |
Pin Oak Park Area | 22 | 2024-06-14 |
Volga River State Recreation Area | 21 | 2024-06-29 |
Daniels Circle NE | 21 | 2023-06-05 |