Red-Spotted Purple

The large Red-Spotted Purple has dark upper forewings with faint red spots near the tips. The upper hindwings are iridescent blue. This butterfly closely resembles swallowtails, but it lacks hindwing tails.

Red-Spotted Purples are active in the Hocking Hills from late spring through fall. They prefer open areas and woodland openings.

Males often visit wet areas where they ‘puddle’ in search of nutrients needed for reproduction. The caterpillars eat the leaves of willow and cottonwood trees.