Weidemeyer's Admiral

Limenitis weidemeyerii is resident in the western United States east of the Rocky Mountains (Scott 1986). Habitats are upper Sonoran to Canadian zone wooded mountain canyons, streamsides and suburbs. Host plants can be shrubs or trees of many species from families Salicaceae and Rosaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as third instar larvae in a hibernaculum. There is one flight, mainly June 1-July 30 in the northern part of the range and two flights between June1-Aug. 31 in the southern part of their range and at lower altitudes (Scott 1986).

Adults feed on tree sap, flower nectar, carrion, mud and other sources. Males perch and rarely patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

Rare; provincial rank S1 and status 'May Be At Risk' because only found in the Milk River area.

Adults fly in June to early August; peaking in mid-June (Bird et al., 1995).

It does not occur in other Canadian jurisdictions (Layberry et al., 1998). Its range extends from southern Alberta and eastern Oregon, south to Nebraska and east-central California, southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico (Opler et al., 1995).

"This is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 57-95 mm. Easily distinguished from other admirals in the province because it has extensive white patches on the ventral surface of the hind wing and it does not have a red patch on its forewing tip. Dorsal wings are black with a white median band on both fore and hindwings. The submarginal areas of the hind wing are black. Ventral wing has brown with white markings and the base of the hindwing is grey-white with dark crosslines. The marginal spots on the ventral hindwing are grey-white. Identification may be complicated by hybridization with Limenitis lorquini; however, hybrids usually have the orange wing tip and broader white bands. The eggs are green (Bird et al., 1995). The larvae are very similar to other admirals and resemble bird droppings. They are mottled grey and white and the saddle on their humped back is tan (Layberry et al., 1998). The pupae are light-coloured and have a large projection from the back (enature.com, 2000)."

Along streams and coulee bottoms where willow and poplar occur, near Milk River, Alberta.

Late instar larvae overwinter in leaf shelters. Males perch on trees and shrubs to watch for receptive females and rarely patrol. Females lay eggs singly on the tips of host plant leaves (Opler et al., 1995) and oviposit on Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) near Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park (Bird et al., 1995). Larvae eat leaves (Opler et al., 1995) and may take more than a year to develop (Bird et al., 1995).

Only known larval host plant in Alberta is Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia, Lancaster, 1988). In the United States, documented host plants include: willows, poplar, ocean spray (Holodiscus sp.), and shadbush (Amelanchier sp.) (Bird et al., 1995; Opler et al., 1995). In Alberta, adults feed on Western Clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) nectar (Lancaster, 1988). Elsewhere, they feed on tree sap, carrion, and flower nectar (Opler et al., 1995).