Observation date: September 23, 2015
Submitted by: Rachelrose294
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: It had been flitting around low in a parking lot. I was worried about it getting hit by a car, so I went up to it to try to take it to a safer place(there were woods nearby on the other side of a fence). It wasn't afraid - it jumped right onto me. I got to the fence with it, but it took a couple tries on different plants before it finally chose to go onto a little yellow wildflower(Hypochaeris radicata, otherwise known as "false dandelion," "cat's ear," or "gosmore," among others). It was a cloudy(but bright) day, felt like it could rain but hadn't. It was relatively warm(I was able to go in short-sleeves), and it was fairly humid.
Status: Resident
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: May 29, 2016
Coordinator notes: I'm unable to tell the gender from these photos. Female Red-spotted Purples are slightly larger than the males, but this fact probably isn't too useful unless you have a pair side by side for comparison. The similar-looking Diana lacks the red spots, and isn't found in that part of Tennessee (anymore... its range has been decreasing).
