Lorquin's admiral
Lorquin's Admiral looks almost identical to the unrelated California Sister, and the two are told apart mainly by the size of the orange patch at the forewing tip.
| Where | Streamside woodlands with willows and cottonwoods |
|---|---|
| Size | 51 to 76 mm wingspan |
| When | April to September |
Black wings crossed by a broad white band and tipped with orange at the forewing give this butterfly its look, one nearly matched by the unrelated California Sister. The underside is reddish brown with white markings crossed by dark veins.
Caterpillars feed on willows, cottonwoods and wild cherry, including orchard trees, and adults live for roughly a month. Males perch along streamside trees and chase off other passing butterflies from their territory.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Black, White, Orange
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Has a larger, well-defined orange patch near the forewing tip, while Lorquin's Admiral has a smaller orange patch that fades out at the edges.
Questions
Is the Lorquin's admiral dangerous to people?
Harmless to people.
When can you see the Lorquin's admiral?
The Lorquin's admiral can be seen from April to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by University of Alaska Museum of the North, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Limenitis
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.