One of our most commonly noticed butterfly species, Red-spotted Purple look a bit like a Spicebush Swallowtail without the swallow tail.

Orange Co., NC 8/24/05.

Caterpillar on Basswood (Tilia americana).

Clay Co., NC 5/12/06.

Red-spotted Purple is something of a misnomer since the spots are orange, not red, and the predominant color is blue, not purple! (True, there is a small amount of purple on them, but definitely no red.)

Harnett Co., NC 7/30/02.

Same butterfly as in top photo.

Carroll Co., VA 6/14/03.