No butterflies are one solid color. This certainly applies when identifying purple butterflies. And since purple is a combination of red and blue, that leaves room for many variations. The colors we see in butterfly wings are created and affected by variations in sunlight. That is what makes the purple of the Red-spotted Purple seem to shine with stunning iridescence.
Click on the Red-Spotted Purple butterfly image to see more pictures, descriptions, and host plants they need to lay eggs.
