Red Admiral
Image: Saifunny (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common NameRed Admiral
Scientific NameVanessa atalanta
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)57.5
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatGardens, parks, woodlands, meadows, urban areas, open country
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, Asia, North America, Central America, Caribbean
Host PlantsUrtica dioica, Parietaria officinalis
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods, overwintering adults can be seen earlier)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on nettles or pellitory. Larvae are spiny, dark, and feed within a silken tent. Pupae are typically brown or grey, often with metallic spots, and the species overwinters as an adult in warmer climates or as a pupa/adult in sheltered locations in colder regions.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive black wings with broad orange-red bands on both forewings and hindwings, and white spots near the forewing apex on the upperside. The underside is cryptically mottled brown and black, with a red band on the forewing.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with black wings, prominent orange-red bands, and white spots on the upperside, while the underside is cryptically mottled brown and black.
