Red-spotted Purple/White Admiral and their kin

[Michael Gochfeld]

When we were researching the Red-spotted Purple (L. arthemis) for
BUTTERFLIES OF NEW JERSEY we were perplexed by the occurrence of
white-banded forms at various times in various parts of the state. 
Although years go by with no records, there are records from the 1970's
in central and southern NJ and sporadic records from northern NJ more
recently.  We even had one in our yard (after the book was out).
Comstock (1940) reported that only Red-spotted Purple (astyanax)
occurred in NJ and that so-called white admirals are actually the form
"albofasciata".  Dale Schweitzer told us that specimens of white-banded
individuals from southern NJ are "intergrades" rather than true
arthemis. 

There are also specimens called proserpina which have only a trace of
white across the wing. Is this properly considered a morph (i.e. a
representative of a stable polymorphism)?

Platt and Brower (1968) reported that the white banding is controlled by
a single pair of autosomal genes with incomplete dominance.   I wonder
if that is still considered correct. 

Also we wrote: "...white bands of varying intensity can show up at
various points in the Purple [astyanax] range (south to western
Virginia, Clark & Clark 1951), even among offspring of Purples that
never encountered a White Admiral."

Is any of that true?

It sounded really simple to write that arthemis and rubrofasciata are
white-banded forms that occur north of the Pipevine Swallowtail range,
while astyanax and arizonensis overlap with Pipevine and are considered
mimics. 

Platt wrote that Bluejays trained on Pipevines, ate Viceroys (and White
Admirals) and rejected Purples, while those trained on Monarchs ate
Purples and rejected Viceroys.  It sounds too simple. What do people
think?

Mike Gochfeld




Sean Patrick Mullen wrote:
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> Forgot to mention in my request for specimens that I am also VERY
> interested in good digital images of Limenitis arthemis spp. from the
> entire geographic range.  To the best of my knowledge, no one has
> "mapped" phenotype very exactly in this species but I could be wrong.
> Hopefully, those of you who feel uncomfortable collecting even for
> research purposes may be willing to help in this way?  Thanks in
> advance.
> 
> -Sean
> 
> P.S.- For those who don't do scientific names, I'm referring to all
> of the racial forms and subspecies of this complex, including: The
> White Admiral, The Red-spotted Purple, The Arizona Red-spotted
> Purple, etc.
> --
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