Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is black with white spots near the apex; forewing with red median band, hindwing with red marginal band. The winter form is smaller and duller, summer form larger and brighter with an interrupted forewing band.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 3 inches (4.5 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: 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. Young caterpillars eat and live within a shelter of folded leaves; older caterpillars make a nest of leaves tied together with silk. Adults hibernate.
Flight: Two broods from March-October in the north, winters from October-March in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants of the nettle family (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).
Adult Food: Red Admirals prefer sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, and bird droppings; visiting flowers only when these are not available. Then they will nectar at common milkweed, red clover, aster, and alfalfa, among others.
Habitat: Moist woods, yards, parks, marshes, seeps, moist fields. During migrations, the Red Admiral is found in almost any habitat from tundra to subtropics.
Range: Guatemala north through Mexico and the United States to northern Canada; Hawaii, some Caribbean Islands, New Zealand, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia. Cannot survive coldest winters; most of North America must be recolonized each spring by southern migrants.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 241 - 264 of 10433 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/21137b4b-37b1-47f9-abce-83ee3a8658f2.jpeg?itok=ZHmJNJ2d)
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Uslan
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2petrova-red_admiral_our_yard_july_8_2023_1154am.dscn6265.jpg?itok=sgD4zRp2)
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/3a52cdef-2a0e-4c93-aabf-9f3ea8d4e60d.jpeg?itok=NG6oO1b1)
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: mpav
Region: New York County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/9-red_admiral_harrietstown_marsh_trail_july_4_2023_97.jpg?itok=1AitXhQu)
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/14-red_admiral_harrietstown_marsh_trail_july_4_2023_224.jpg?itok=AUc_-Qg9)
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/9-red_admiral_adk_loj_rd_july_5_2023_931am_81.jpg?itok=KkkAerZN)
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/red_admiral_vanessa_atalanta_jte_8866.jpg?itok=1mN-wHxx)
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/red_admiral_chain_olakes_sp_7-3-23.jpg?itok=g6u2feO3)
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7315.jpeg?itok=DNDWvXmo)
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: Col
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2023_07_04_red_admiral_gravel.jpg?itok=42HeWGEq)
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/red_admiral_van_patten_woods_fp_6-30-23.jpg?itok=69vT420e)
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8014.jpeg?itok=9lzvHPYk)
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: Kristylardomita
Region: Geauga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2641_copyrighted.jpg?itok=fCGxMX8i)
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2199_copyrighted.jpg?itok=LXCp8ixN)
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7157_2.jpg?itok=IwdERcmx)
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Lincoln County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6938_2.jpg?itok=qzb7XYHt)
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Watonwan County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6872_4.jpg?itok=H-KWTa1-)
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8537.jpeg?itok=KNTEyCrq)
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: Bug Catcher cha...
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/3w1a5812.jpg?itok=nVmKgJ1H)
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/42274544_unknown.jpeg?itok=TUW5wKmn)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/red_admiral_butterfly_8.jpg?itok=EMu6gdY-)
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: PACOD3
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn9856_0.jpg?itok=bG5kYpsx)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20230627_122719.jpg?itok=pTuV865c)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: Naturegirl22
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
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