Wing-pattern-polymorphism
Guides
Carsia sororiata
Manchester Treble-bar, Manchester Treble-bar Moth
Carsia sororiata is a geometrid moth with a Holarctic distribution spanning northern and central Europe through Siberia to the Russian Far East and northern Mongolia, with a separate North American range from Alaska to Newfoundland and New Hampshire. Adults are active from July to August. The species exhibits notable wing pattern variation across its range, with several described subspecies.
Limenitis arthemis arthemis
American White Admiral, White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis arthemis, the American White Admiral, is a forest-dwelling butterfly distinguished by its white-banded wing pattern. This subspecies represents the non-mimetic phenotype within the L. arthemis complex, contrasting with the mimetic red-spotted purple form (L. a. astyanax). Population genetic studies indicate this white-banded phenotype evolved as a derived condition through evolutionary reversion rather than representing the ancestral state. The subspecies occurs in forested and wooded suburban habitats across northern North America, where adults are active during summer months.
Limenitis arthemis rubrofasciata
Western White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis rubrofasciata is a subspecies of the white admiral/red-spotted purple complex, found in western North America. It represents one of several stable hybrid wing patterns within this nominal species, which has been extensively studied for its evolution of mimicry and hybridization between non-mimetic and mimetic populations. The subspecies exhibits intermediate characteristics between the white admiral and red-spotted purple forms.