How to Identify a Red Spotted Purple Butterfly

A butterfly in your yard is always a welcome sight, but if that butterfly shimmers? Even better! The red spotted purple butterfly has an iridescent sheen that makes it truly eye-catching. Here’s what you need to know about this pretty pollinator.

Meet the red admiral butterfly and learn how to attract them.

Red Spotted Purple Butterfly Markings

Courtesy Nevin Shrom

These gorgeous butterflies glimmer in the sunlight. From above, they are mostly black and iridescent blue with small orange spots on the wing tips. In addition, more red-orange markings are visible from below.

“I took this photo of a red spotted purple butterfly (above) at Kelly’s Run Nature Preserve in Holtwood, Pennsylvania. It’s one of my favorite places to hike,” Birds & Blooms reader Nevin Shrom says.

We found 10 beautiful butterfly pictures you HAVE to see.

Where to Find a Red Spotted Purple

Courtesy Mike Brickl

Red spotted purples aren’t found throughout the United States, so your best bet of finding one is in the eastern part of the country. Additional populations are found in the Southwest as well. In those regions, you’re most likely to find one in wooded areas. They’re commonly found in suburbs.

“Discovering a new variety of butterfly in your garden is really exciting. This red spotted purple (above) looked gorgeous fluttering around our blooming purple coneflowers,” Birds & Blooms reader Mike Brickl says.

You’re likely to spot moths anywhere you’ll find a red spotted purple. Here’s how to tell the difference between moths and butterflies.

What Do These Butterflies Eat?

Photography by Alexandra Rudge/Getty Images

Flower nectar isn’t the preferred diet for these colorful fliers. Instead, to attract them to your yard, you’ll want to serve fruit. Offer them overripe bananas, citrus, apples or any other juicy fruit. Here are 9 super-simple ways to attract butterflies.

Red Spotted Purple Caterpillar

Red spotted purple caterpillars give little indication of the lovely creature they’ll grow up to be! The brown, green and white caterpillars have humps on their backs and dark-colored hornlike appendages. Quiz: How many types of caterpillars can you identify?

Host Plants

Unlike a monarch butterfly, the red spotted purple cannot be drawn to yards with milkweed plants. Cottonwoods, willows, wild cherries and other trees are their preferred nest plants. Check out the top 10 butterfly host plants to attract pollinators.