How two butterflies became one

During the American Revolution, some North American lepidopterists focused on butterflies, discovering two new species: the White Admiral and the Red Spotted Purple. These butterflies have distinct survival strategies; the White Admiral uses camouflage, while the Red Spotted Purple mimics a poisonous species. Near the US-Canada border, these butterflies interbreed, leading to hybrids with mixed traits. Despite their visual differences, they are genetically similar, prompting scientists to classify them as one species. This case highlights how appearances can be deceiving in species classification.

Which butterfly is recognized as the official insect emblem of Quebec?

• White Admiral

• Monarch Butterfly

• Red Spotted Purple

• Viceroy Butterfly

What is the primary survival strategy of the White Admiral butterfly?

• Mimicking poisonous species

• Using stealth with white stripes

• Camouflaging with leaves

• Flying at night

How does the Red Spotted Purple butterfly deter predators?

• By emitting a foul odor

• By hiding under leaves

• By flying in groups

• By mimicking a poisonous species

What happens when the ranges of the White Admiral and Red Spotted Purple overlap?

• They avoid each other

• They migrate to different areas

• They produce hybrid offspring

• They compete for resources

What conclusion did scientists reach about the White Admiral and Red Spotted Purple?

• They are completely different species

• They cannot interbreed

• They are extinct

• They are a single species