Family: Nymphalidae, Brush-footed Butterflies view all from this family

Description 2 3/4-3 3/8" (70-86 mm). Large. Above, coal-black without significant blue reflections, both wings crossed by broad white bands. Small white spots line black border and cross FW tip. Below, FW similar with 2 reddish bars in cell; HW bluish-gray with black cross lines inside white band; outside band is row of reddish spots followed by another row of blue-gray crescents. Amount of reddish and width of bands vary among populations.

Similar Species White Admiral has outstanding blue reflections and more reddish below. Lorquin's Admiral has orange to buff wing tips and off-white bands.

Life Cycle Caterpillar mottled gray and white, humped; feeds upon willows (Salix) and cottonwoods (Populus), including aspens. Chrysalis resembles bird dropping, with contrasting light and dark, with rounded protrusion on back.

Flight 1 brood; late May or June-August.

Habitat Chiefly watercourses lined with willows or cottonwoods; also sand hills, sage flats, parklands, gardens, washes, and mountainsides with nearby streams, canals, or lakesides.

Range Se. Alberta, e. Oregon and Nevada east to Dakotas, Nebraska, and New Mexico.

Discussion The several species of American admirals neatly divide up the continent. Only the Viceroy occupies nearly the whole. The White Admiral is basically northeastern, the Red-spotted Purple southeastern, and each extends westerly to the north and south respectively. Lorquin's Admiral occupies the West Coast, and Weidemeyer's Admiral the Rocky Mountains and their adjacent lowlands. Where the species do meet, a measure of hybridism often takes place. Throughout most of the Rockies, Weidemeyer's is the only banded admiral encountered. Territorial battles often take place between Weidemeyer's Admirals and other waterside denizens, such as Mourning Cloaks, Tiger Swallowtails, small skippers, and crescentspots, as well as dragonflies.