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Life Stages Diagram
The bars in this diagram show approximate times of the year when the butterfly will be present, in Nova Scotia, in its various life stages.

The dates shown for the adult stage are based on actual reports for Nova Scotia. The majority of reports will be within the period shown, but small numbers of adults will be earlier or later.

Dates for egg, larva and pupa are based on what information was available regarding time periods for eggs to develop, and typical time required for pupation. Like the adults, some records can be expected outside the date ranges we have shown. We caution that dates for these immature stages are mostly conjectural.

Viceroy
White Admiral - Limenitis arthemis
[White Admiral image]
White Admiral - Pockwock Road, NS - 2009-07-05
Photo © Phil Schappert
What's this?
Status in Nova Scotia
Common.

Flight Period
Mid-June to early October. Partial 2nd brood in fall.

Habitat
Clearings, roads.

Larval Foodplants
Willow, Poplar, Aspen, Birch and other trees.

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
None.

Notes
Prefers animal dung and rotting fruit as food; seldom feeds on flowers. The name "White Admiral" refers to the white-banded form of L. arthemis, which is the form we see in Nova Scotia. This form is also called "Banded Purple" in some older references. The other form (unbanded) is called the Red-spotted Purple, and does not occur here. They were once thought to be separate species.

Further Reading


White Admiral - Drysdale Bog, NS, 2011-07-17
White Admiral - Drysdale Bog, NS - 2011-07-17
2011-07-17
Photo © Phil Schappert
White Admiral - Advocate, NS, 2012-07-01
White Admiral - Advocate, NS - 2012-07-01
2012-07-01
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
White Admiral - Apple River, NS, 2012-07-17
White Admiral - Apple River, NS - 2012-07-17
2012-07-17
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
White Admiral - Apple River, NS, 2013-07-13
White Admiral - Apple River, NS - 2013-07-13
2013-07-13
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
White Admiral - Apple River, NS, 2013-07-13
White Admiral - Apple River, NS - 2013-07-13
2013-07-13
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
White Admiral - Hammonds Plains, NS, 2010-07-04
White Admiral - Hammonds Plains, NS - 2010-07-04
2010-07-04
Photo © Donna Evers
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro, 2020-06-27
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro - 2020-06-27
2020-06-27
Photo © William Crawford
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro, 2020-06-27
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro - 2020-06-27
2020-06-27
Photo © William Crawford
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-06-30
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-06-30
2022-06-30
Photo © William D. Crawford
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-06-30
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-06-30
2022-06-30
Photo © William D. Crawford
White Admiral - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-06-30
White Admiral - On animal dropping. - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-06-30
2022-06-30
Photo © William D. Crawford