On Monday I spotted this beautiful Red-spotted Purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) in a sea of ferns adjacent to a creek that I was exploring in Prince William County, Virgnia. I love the iridescent blue color on the wings and the little red spots that provide a nice accent color. Although I see a slight purplish tint to the wing on the right, I really don’t see very much purple on this butterfly’s body despite the fact that “purple” is a prominent part of the name of this species.
The color and texture of the ferns make for a beautiful backdrop for the butterfly and add a bit of visual interest without being distracting.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 