Lorquin’s Admiral Butterfly Visits Baltimore Woods

Butterflies are symbols of freedom, beauty and transformations! How appropriate then that a Lorquin’s admiral butterfly was observed in the Baltimore Woods habitat this summer, and area that has experienced significant habitat healthy restoration and metamorphosis in the past 15 years.

As butterfly species world wide are experiencing unquestionable habitat loss and quite possible, a slow descent towards extinction, the sighting of this beautiful creature in the Baltimore Woods in indeed cause for celebration.

Limentis lorquini, is the Latin genus and species name for the Lorquin’s admiral butterfly. They typically have black wings with white median bands, and orange wingtips. The wing undersides are reddish-brown with white markings.

The Lorquin’s admiral found and photographed by Betsy Valle this summer in the FOBW property along North Decatur Avenue was resting on a Himalayan blackberry vine.