Red-spotted purple vs White admiral

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a red-spotted purple from a white admiral, and whether either one bites or stings.

≠The key differences

A different form of the same species with a broad white band across the wings instead of the blue-black iridescent upper surface and red spots.

	Red-spotted purple	White admiral
To humans	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Size	6-8 cm wingspan	56-64 mm wingspan
Colours	Glossy blue, Black, Red-orange, Brown (underside), White (band, white admiral form)	Black, White, Steel blue, Warm brown
Family	Nymphalidae	Nymphalidae
Habitat	Deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest edges, parks, suburban gardens and riparian corridors.	Deciduous and mixed woodland with sunlit rides, glades and dense honeysuckle understorey
Range	Eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through much of the eastern United States; distribution of forms varies geographically.	Temperate Europe and Asia, from Britain and France eastwards through Russia to China, Korea and Japan
Active	Spring through early autumn (peak in summer); diurnal, most active during warm daylight hours.	Mainly late spring to mid-summer (often June-July in northern Europe); daytime (diurnal)
Pest?	No	No

Look for glossy blue-violet sheen on the upper wings with small red-orange marginal spots (red-spotted purple form).
Note absence of tails (distinguishes from many swallowtails) and the overall dark, glossy ground colour.
Compare the white-banded form (white admiral) which has a broad white band across both wings; both forms belong to the same species.
Underside is mottled brown and camouflaged; check for reddish marginal spots on the underside in the red-spotted purple form.

Broad, well-defined white median band across both forewing and hindwing on a dark glossy background
Small white spots near the forewing tip and no eyespot on the hindwing upperside
Underside: orange-chestnut with white bands, black spots and a blue-grey base

A different form of the same species with a broad white band across the wings instead of the blue-black iridescent upper surface and red spots.

Red-spotted purple: Non-toxic. White admiral: Non-toxic. Harmless to people. Harmless to people.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.