Butterflies don’t have nursing homes to go to when they’re old and dying; most end their short lives in public disarray. Here you see a deteriorating, previously beautiful white admiral butterfly trying to get enough energy to live a few more days. Its reported lifespan is only 6 to 14 days, if it survives predators.
There are two common admiral butterflies here, but they are distinctly different species: the white admirals (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) and the red admirals (Vanessa atalanta). Here’s a Leighton Archive image of a red:
Why these insects are called “admirals” is not clear. Goggle and AI searches revealed only this theory: “The ‘admiral’ designation likely comes from the stately, commanding appearance of these butterflies, giving them a regal, ‘admiral-like’ presence.” My guess is that it’s more likely they were named “admiral” because they both have broad, characterizing bands on their wings, arguably similar to the broad insignia braids on Navy admirals’ dress uniform sleeves.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine; white admiral image taken September 4, 2025.)