Red Admiral Butterfly

Description:

The Red Admiral has a very erratic, rapid flight. Males perch, on ridgetops if available, in the afternoon to wait for females, who lay eggs singly on the tops of host plant leaves. They prefer sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, and bird droppings; visiting flowers only when these are not available.

Habitat:

Europe, Asia & North America. March - October. Moist woods, yards, parks, marshes, seeps, moist fields. During migrations, the Red Admiral is found in almost any habitat from tundra to subtropics. Host Plants: Nettle (Urticaceae) including stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), tall wild nettle (U. gracilis), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), pellitory (Parietoria pennsylvanica), mamaki (Pipturus albidus), and possibly hops (Humulus).

Notes:

When these butterflies first appeared I could not get within 20 feet without them flying off. Finally after 5 weeks they seem to have warmed up to me and the camera & are actually posing :) This is the first year I have ever seen this butterfly and now they are everywhere, perching on sunny tree trunks, puddling & drinking nectar from the Pincushion Flower.