Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

The Red Admiral is a striking butterfly with dark wings and bright red bands. It often rests on flowers to soak up the sun!

Habitat: Woodlands, gardens, and parks

Appearance

The Red Admiral has striking dark brown to black wings featuring bold, bright orange-red bands across the forewings and along the hindwing edges. Small white spots near the forewing tips further distinguish its appearance. Its mottled brown and blue underside provides excellent camouflage when resting.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusVanessa

Red Admiral

Interesting facts

Adult Red Admirals absolutely love to sip on juicy, fermenting fruit from the ground!

Despite their beauty, they sometimes drink from bird droppings to get extra nutrients!

Some Red Admirals can survive freezing winter by hiding in tree hollows or under bark!

Their caterpillars are so picky they only eat the leaves of stinging nettles!

Special abilities

Red Admirals can fly thousands of miles because of strong flight muscles that help them migrate across continents.

Red Admirals have mottled brown and blue undersides that help them blend in perfectly with tree bark or dead leaves when resting.

Red Admirals can taste with their feet because of special receptors that help them find sugary food sources like rotting fruit.

Red Admirals have tiny claws and sticky pads on their legs that help them perch firmly on leaves, flowers, or even tree trunks.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 45-60 mm
Size: 25-32 mm
Lifespan: 60-300 days
Flight Speed: 10 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Adults drink nectar, tree sap, and rotting fruit juice; caterpillars munch on stinging nettle leaves.

Age differences: Caterpillars exclusively eat stinging nettle leaves, while adults primarily drink nectar, tree sap, and fermenting fruit.

Primary Foods

Flower Nectar
Tree Sap
Fermenting Fruit
Stinging Nettle Leaves
Bird Droppings

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Stinging Nettle

Urtica dioica

Caterpillars exclusively feed on its leaves for growth.

pollinates

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Adults drink nectar, helping to spread the plant's pollen.

eaten by

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Birds like sparrows may prey on adult butterflies or caterpillars.

depends on

Apple Tree

Malus domestica

Adults feed on fermenting fallen fruit from apple trees.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Camouflaged

Look closely for animals that are masters of disguise, blending perfectly into their surroundings! Their colors and patterns help them hide from others.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Diurnal

Wake up with creatures that are most active during the day! They love the sunshine for finding food, playing, and exploring.

Pollinator

Meet the busy helpers of the plant world! These creatures carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds and grow fruits and vegetables.