Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Family: Nymphalidae Checklist: 59.023

 
Description
Wing span: 65-76 mm. The Red Admiral is primarily a migrant to the British Isles, but some individuals are able to spend the winter here. As a result it can be seen at any time of year. The sexes are similar. It can be found throughout the British Isles. Red Admirals can be seen in any type of habitat, including gardens and orchards.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Red Admiral ♂ © David Hastings
Red Admiral ♂ underside © David Hastings
Male Male underside Female Female underside
 
Life Cycle
There is a gradual build-up of adults from May onwards. These mate on arrival and give rise to the next generation of adults, which culminate in a peak in the autumn. As the temperature falls, adults change behaviour and start flying south without mating. Large numbers may accumulate on the southern coast of England prior to flying across the Channel. When they arrive in the Mediterranean region, nettle beds have recovered from the dry summer and have fresh, lush leaves that are ideal for breeding. The resulting caterpillars grow slowly during the winter, before pupating and emerging in March or April. The adults immediately begin a northwards migration.
 
Larval Foodplants
The main larval food plant is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica) and Small Nettle (Urtica urens) are also used.
 
Nectar Sources
Adults love to feed on over-ripe fruit. They also feed on flowers such as Buddleia, Michaelmas Daisies, Sedum and Ivy.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 1st January
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 22nd January
 
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat generalist, so can be found almost anywhere in the UTB region.

 
Related Species
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