Diversity
Four species of
Admiral butterflies
are found in North America, but this number is not agreed upon by authorities. The
number may be interpreted as few as two species or as many as five or six. Due to
species hybridization, it is difficult to define the number of species. Some species
tend to hybridize where their ranges overlap. This may lead to entire populations
of hybrid butterflies in these “blend” zones. In Eurasia, there are one or more species
that are distinct from those found in North America.
Geographic Range
Species of the genus
Limenitis
, known as admiral butterflies, are found throughout North America and temperate Eurasia.
- Biogeographic Regions
- nearctic
- palearctic
Habitat
Admiral butterflies are found in sunny areas of wooded areas like forests and mountains.
Caterpillars of this genus are most often found near their host plants.
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- Aquatic Biomes
- lakes and ponds
- rivers and streams
Systematic and Taxonomic History
American species may be classified into a genus called
Basilarchia
in some literature.
Physical Description
Admiral butterflies are large butterflies that don’t have tails nor additional appendages
on their wings. Coloring between species of this genus is distinct. They may be confused
with the species
queens
, members of the genera
sisters
and
monarchs
, and the family called
swallowtails
.
The caterpillars of the various species look very similar and can be hard to differentiate.
Caterpillars look rough and have large bumps. They have two large bumpy horns. Resembling
bird droppings, caterpillars are dark brown or green in color. They may have spots
of white or cream color.
Swallowtail caterpillars
may look similar, but they lack the horns.
- Other Physical Features
- ectothermic
- bilateral symmetry
Development
Admiral butterflies, like other
butterflies
, undergo complete metamorphosis. Members of this genus overwinter as larvae. They
build hibernaculum, which is like a cocoon made from part of a rolled leaf.
- Development - Life Cycle
- metamorphosis
- diapause
Reproduction
Admirals breed seasonally and use sexual reproduction. Females lay eggs.
- Key Reproductive Features
- seasonal breeding
- sexual
- fertilization
- oviparous
- Parental Investment
- no parental involvement
Lifespan/Longevity
Most adults live from late spring to early summer. They produce one generation per
year. In the south, multiple generations may occur. Members of this genus overwinter
as larvae.
Communication and Perception
Admiral butterflies communicate through visual and chemical manners. They utilize vision and chemical methods for perception.
- Other Communication Modes
- pheromones
Food Habits
Larvae are laid on and feed on host plants. They prefer members of the family
Salicaceae
, such as
poplars
and
willows
. They may also consume members of the family
Rosaceae
, including
apple
,
serviceberry
, and
cherry
. Occasionally, they have been observed feeding on
alder
,
birch
,
oak
,
lindens
, and
vaccinium
. Adults feed on nectar.
- Primary Diet
- herbivore
Predation
Some species of admiral butterflies utilize Batesian mimicry. Viceroy butterflies
(
Limenitis archippus
) are well-known mimics of
monarch butterflies
. Red-spotted purple or white admirals (
Limenitis arthemis
) are mimics of
pipevine swallowtails
.
Monarch butterflies
and
pipevine swallowtails
are unpalatable for predators. Members of this genus are eaten by predatory birds
like
blue jays
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- mimic
Ecosystem Roles
Adult admiral butterflies are pollinators that feed on nectar. Some species of this
genus are mimics of unpalatable butterflies. Caterpillars feed on the host plants
on which they are laid.
- Ecosystem Impact
- pollinates
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Adult admiral butterflies are pollinators.
- Positive Impacts
- pollinates crops
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
No information about negative economic impact for humans was found.
Conservation Status
Some species of this genus, such as
viceroys
, are of conservation concern due to loss of habitat.
Additional Links
Contributors
Deena Hauze (author), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
- Nearctic
-
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Palearctic
-
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- mountains
-
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
- metamorphosis
-
A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies have complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.
- diapause
-
a period of time when growth or development is suspended in insects and other invertebrates, it can usually only be ended the appropriate environmental stimulus.
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- internal fertilization
-
fertilization takes place within the female's body
- oviparous
-
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- pheromones
-
chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- folivore
-
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
- nectarivore
-
an animal that mainly eats nectar from flowers
- ectothermic
-
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
References
Austin, G., D. Murphy. 1987. ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF GREAT BASIN BUTTERFLIES: PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION AND DIFFERENTIATION. The Great Basin Naturalist , 47(2): 186-201. Accessed July 31, 2020 at https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/stable/41712322 .
Bartlett, T. 2012. "Genus Limenitis - Admirals & Viceroy" (On-line). Bug Guide. Accessed July 31, 2020 at https://bugguide.net/node/view/358 .
Platt, A., R. Coppinger, L. Brower. 1971. Demonstration of the Selective Advantage of Mimetic Limenitis Butterflies Presented to Caged Avian Predators. Society for the Study of Evolution , 25(4): 692-701. Accessed July 31, 2020 at http://www.jstor.com/stable/2406950 .
Porter, A. 1989. Genetic Evidence for Reproductive Isolation between Hybridizing Limenitis Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Southwestern New Mexico. The American Midland Naturalist , 122(2): 275-280. Accessed July 31, 2020 at https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/stable/2425913 .