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Project Noah Nature School
Vanessa atalanta
Medium sized butterfly with brown hairy body. Wings are mostly brown with a red stripe on the forewing and a red patch on each hindwing. The forewings have white spots as well.
Right now Chicago is undergoing a Red Admiral population explosion. They aren't unheard of, but they tended to stay in forest preserves and nature sanctuaries in the past. (http://shootingdownthemiddleoftheroad.bl...) They are now so numerous, they're becoming a common sight in busy city neighborhoods. During my hike in this particular forest preserve I was able to see six or seven at a time and then I'd move twenty feet and see six or seven new ones. They're even getting news attention: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/17/r...
Spotted on Apr 15, 2012
Submitted on Apr 22, 2012
1 Comment
I live in the same general vicinity and have also noticed LOTS of Red Admirals during the past week.