Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 24,421 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Red-spotted Admiral: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red-spotted Admiral
Limenitis arthemis, the white admiral or red-spotted purple, is part of the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several stable hybrid wing patterns within this nominal species; it is one of the most dramatic examples of hybridization between non-mimetic and mimetic populations.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red-spotted Admiral by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 1,998 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Ohio | 1,845 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Virginia | 1,482 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 1,458 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Michigan | 1,424 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Maryland | 1,419 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Illinois | 1,381 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 1,331 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 1,103 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Minnesota | 894 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 754 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 743 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 739 | July | Apr–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 689 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Georgia | 674 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Indiana | 644 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 610 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 554 | August | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 539 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 403 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Carolina | 402 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 374 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 361 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Arkansas | 349 | July | Apr–Sep |
| West Virginia | 290 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Iowa | 276 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Maine | 264 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 236 | August | May–Sep |
| Mississippi | 205 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Delaware | 183 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nebraska | 181 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Louisiana | 164 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Kansas | 143 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 82 | June | Jun–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 81 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Carolina | 49 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Arizona | 34 | May | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 24 | July | Jun–Jul |
| South Dakota | 19 | July | Jun–Aug |
| North Dakota | 11 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Red-spotted Admiral?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to September.
Where is Red-spotted Admiral most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia.