L. arthemis can be split into two major groups, mainly based on one physical characteristic: the presence of a white band along the wings.

Individuals of the northern group, called white admirals, have a conspicuous white band that traverses both the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the wing, while those of the southern group, called red-spotted purples, lack that trait as they have evolved to mimic the poisonous pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor).

The butterfly species themselves can be divided into two major groups simply from one main characteristic, the white band on the upper wings.

During the short period they are at rest, L. arthemis keep their wings closed, body at a 45 degree angle upwards, and antennae straight forward.

L a. arthemis or the white admiral live on the far north side of the continent, ranging from New England and southern Great Lakes area all the way to various parts of Canada.

These butterflies spend their days in deciduous woodlands, along the edges of the forest in shady areas, including roadsides.

[8] When males are searching for mates, they generally try to defend areas that have high female visitation rates, regardless of the amount of resources.

Mother undergoes labor for several weeks, laying only a few eggs per day; this is implied as more and more worn-out females are found.

[3] Lasting about seven days, the eggs have a grey-green color with kite-shaped cells surrounding a central circular structure.

Mature larvae are deep brownish-olive color with faint white midsections on their dorsal sides.

For the L.arthemis it is crucial in order to find food, avoid predators, and engage in social signaling i.e. mating behaviors.

[12] This diversity results not only from the different spectral properties, but also from the alternations in the number and spatial distribution of visual pigments.

These visual pigments are modulated by specific amino acids which determines the absorbance spectra that allows for animals to detect particular wavelengths of light.

In L. arthemis, it has been shown in a study that the diversification of opsins have altered on a longitudinal cline along with natural selection due to environmental factors, unrelated to spectral tuning.

Specifically, the gene WntA was found to be responsible for mimicry between L. arthemis and the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor), species that diverged more than 65 million years ago.

[19] Another study ruled out a major hypothesis stating that the reappearance of the non-mimic form was due to the evolutionary loss of mimicry and a reversion to the ancestral phenotype.

[2] Unlike previous studies which suggested that melanin pathway genes were responsible for variation in patterning and pigment expression,[20] the WntA pathway is a crucial part of the early development of embryos and therefore highly conserved between species; thus making it the most likely candidate responsible for the evolution of mimicry in L.

The two major subspecies that dominate the hybridization are L. a. arthemis (white admiral) and L. a. astyanax (red-spotted purple).

[10] They were able to support their claim by examining various of mitochondria DNA of the population to determine the similarities and differences of the origins of the hybrid zones and the evolution of mimicry.

[22] These fights are significant due to the ability of female butterflies to "double-mate" which introduce the idea of sperm precedence and competition to reproduce between males.

A study showed that within female butterflies that "double-mate" a small percent of the progeny resulted from the mixing of sperm, which illustrate the individual fitness of the male.

[23] Generally, the fights engaged by L. arthemis are aerial maneuvers which are initiated once a nonresident male files into his peripheral vision.

Also but not as often: Crataegus, Amelanchier, Malus pumila, Prunus pensylvanica and Prunus serotina (Rosaceae), Populus deltoides, P. grandidentata and P. balsamifera (Salicaceae), Alnus rugosa, Betula alleghaniensis and Carpinus caroliniana (Betulaceae), Ulmus americana (Ulmaceae), Tilia americana (Malvaceae) and Fagus grandifolia (Fagaceae).