Basilarchia astyanax
Auburn, Alabama
The red-spotted purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax (Fabricius),
is a beautiful forest butterfly that is also commonly seen in wooded suburban areas.
It is considered to be a Batesian mimic of the poisonous pipe vine swallowtail, Battus philenor (Linnaeus), with which it is sympatric.

Preferred plant hosts for red-spotted purple larvae are black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and deerberry (Vaccineum stamineum L.), and occasionally willows.