widely varying sizes of Limenitis arthemis?

Limenitis as a whole vary greatly in size. Females can be exceptionally large while males can be noticeably small. This is especially true east of the Great Plains. In the western half of Pennsylvania, Limenitis arthemis arthemis are all about the same size, males and females. However, the White bands very from full on both wings to almost absent.

While living in Augusta County, Virginia, both males and females could be enormous. And 50 miles to the northwest in Highland County, they could be almost tinny.

However, whenever I reared them, they were always average size, no great big ones, no little ones.

My opinion, larval host plant and the nutritional value of the plant. Just my opinion. And as we all know, opinions are like rectal orifices, everybody has one.

Over the years I have managed to accumulate seven drawers of Limenitis astyanax/arthemis from about every state east of the Mississippi River.

Should any of you live in an area with both species, L. astyanax and/or L. arthemis, set out bait traps and start collecting. You will be stunned at the variation.

With my 3 traps this summer, I seem to get more of this species than any others. I must have collected a couple of dozen so far, and that's only been just the last few weeks. Leroy, yes, I've noticed differences in banding. I've also noticed differences in the fluorescent wing colors. I have seen blue of course, but also green and sort of a violet too. Interesting lep. I only wish before it got too cold that the Limenitis archippus I see occasionally near my feeders would take the bait. It seems to hover around them, but not fly in. One day it did, but it got away before I could close the slots.  I do have one in my display globe that I found in my bait trap three years ago, but it is a lot smaller than the one I have been seeing lately. 

My big rearing attempt was last summer: Papilio glaucus. I purchased small willow trees and placed them in an enclosure along with females hoping some would lay eggs. I also had small Buddleia for feeding. Despite all efforts, the females I would place in the enclosure would "play dead" long enough that I really thought they were and release them. I tried keeping them in the dark for a couple of days, hand feeding them, etc, but nothing worked. Later, I found out that I was using the wrong type of tree and should have used black or choke cherry. No time to try again this year, although there were many, many more possible candidates available this summer due to much better rain and no late freezes unlike the prior year.

I'd love to see your photos of Limenitis astyanax/arthemis. I've collected so many just within the last month with the three traps that I just had to freeze them until I have more time for pinning. I can keep them moist at room temperature with a lysol soaked paper towel inside the container, but for some reason if I don't watch, the lysol loses its strength and mold forms. So, if I go that route, I have to replace the lysol paper towels daily. Easier to just freeze if I don't have time to monitor.