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Red Admiral Butterfly

Vanessa atalanta

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).

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3 Comments

LeanneGardner
LeanneGardner 11 years ago

So pretty :)

Small Wonders
Small Wonders 11 years ago

Thank you Luis :)

LuisStevens
LuisStevens 11 years ago

Beautiful!

Small Wonders
Spotted by
Small Wonders

Northview, Michigan, USA

Spotted on Apr 19, 2012
Submitted on Mar 15, 2013

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