Lorquin’s Admiral
Scientific Name:
Limenitis lorquini
Type:
Insect
Habitat:
Forest edges, canyons, streamsides, groves of cottonwood and poplar.1
Range:
This species is found from British Columbia south to Southern California, and East to western Montana and Idaho.1
Status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
This species is
NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
The upperside of the wings is black, with white oval spots on both wings. When the wings are open flat, the white rows connect, and form a single curve.2 Wingtips are orange brown. Underside of wings is reddish brown with white markings. This butterfly is large, with a wing span of 2-2 ¾ inches.1
Fast Facts:
The host plant of this species are wild cherry, willows, poplar, and cottonwood trees.1
Partially grown caterpillars will overwinter in rolled leaf shelters, emerging in spring.1
The caterpillar is covered in ridges and bumps, and is a mix of brown, white, and gray colors-their appearance mimics bird droppings to deter predators.3
Adult butterflies have a different diet than their caterpillar counterparts, including nectar from flowers such as Yerba Santa, and California Buckeye, tree sap, decaying fruit, and dung, as it provides a number of essential minerals.3
This butterfly belongs to the Nymphalidae family, or the brush-footed family. Butterflies in this family have reduced front legs without feet, and instead have brushes of hair for sensing.4
Sources:
1. Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Boisduval, 1852) | Butterflies and Moths of North America. (n.d.). Www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Limenitis-lorquini
2. Lorquin’s Admiral. (n.d.). Www.insectidentification.org. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Lorquins-Admiral-Butterfly
3. Dhir, B., Piyushi. (2023b, September 4). Lorquins Admiral: All You Need to Know in a Nutshell. What’s That Bug? https://www.whatsthatbug.com/lorquins-admiral-all-you-need-to-know-in-a-nutshell/
4. Dhir, B., Piyushi. (2023a, September 4). Brush Footed Butterfly: All You Need to Know in a Nutshell. What’s That Bug? https://www.whatsthatbug.com/brush-footed-butterfly-all/
Contributor(s):
Katie Quinlivan, research &content
Dayna Genio, web edits