Vanessa atalanta

Taxobox
name = Red Admiral

---

image_caption = a Red Admiral Butterfly
image_width = 250px
status = NE
status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
superfamilia = Papilionoidea
familia = Nymphalidae
subfamilia = Nymphalinae
tribus = Nymphalini
genus = "Vanessa"
species = "V. atalanta"
binomial = "Vanessa atalanta"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Red Admiral or "Vanessa atalanta" (previously also known as "Pyrameis atalanta") is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe, Asia and North America. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring, and sometimes again in autumn.

This large butterfly is identified by its striking dark brown, red and black wing pattern. The caterpillar feeds on nettles, and the adult drinks from flowering plants like the Buddleia and overripe fruit.

In northern Europe, it is one of the last butterflies to be seen before winter sets in, often feeding on the pale fire of ivy flowers on sunny days. The Red Admiral is also known to hibernate, re-emerging individuals showing prominently darker colourings than first brood subjects. The butterfly also flies on sunny winter days, especially in southern Europe.

In North America, the Red Admiral generally has two broods from March through October. Most of North America must be recolonized each spring by southern migrants, but this species over-winters in south Texas.

References

*Tucker, Mike and Ceney, Bryan (1997) "The Red Admiral Butterfly". Butterfly Conservation, Colchester, UK, 32p. ISBN 0952260255
* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/butterfly_red_admiral.htm Red Admiral Butterfly: Large format reference quality (free) photographs] Cirrus Digital Imaging
*ITIS|ID=|taxon=Vanessa atalanta|year=2006|date=6 February
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/448/bgimage Red Admiral on Bugguide.net]