Vanessa atalanta, the red admiral or, previously, the red admirable,[3] is a well-characterized,

medium-sized butterfly with black wings, red bands, and white spots. It has a wingspan of about 2
inches (5 cm).[4] It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
The red admiral is widely distributed across temperate regions of North Africa, the Americas, Europe,
Asia, and the Caribbean.[5] It resides in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring and sometimes
again in autumn. Typically found in moist woodlands, the red admiral caterpillar's primary host plant
is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica); it can also be found on the false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica).[6]
The adult butterfly drinks from flowering plants like Buddleia and overripe fruit. Red admirals are
territorial; females will only mate with males that hold territory. Males with superior flight abilities
are more likely to successfully court females. It is known as an unusually calm butterfly, often allowing
observation at a very close distance before flying away, also landing on and using humans as perches.
Geographic range[edit]
The red admiral is found in temperate regions of North Africa, North and Central America, Europe,
Asia, and island regions of Hawaii, and the Caribbean.[5]
Description[edit]
The forewing of this butterfly bears on a black ground an oblique vermilion band and a group of white
subapical spots. On the hindwing the larger portion of the distal margin is red, with a row of small
black spots and at the anal angle an elongate blue spot. The underside is partly variegated with blue;
the forewing is on the whole similar in markings to the upper, while the hindwing is brightly
variegated and clouded, bearing black markings, of which those in the cell resemble a figure (on the
left wing 18 or 98, on the right 81 or 89); in the middle of the costal area there is a pale patch and in
the distal marginal area a row of ocellus-like spots. Sometimes, especially in the female, the red band
of the forewing bears a small white spot in the middle.
Biology[edit]
In northern Europe, it is one of the last butterflies to be seen before winter sets in, often feeding on
the flowers of ivy on sunny days. The red admiral is also known to hibernate,[7] re-emerging
individuals showing prominently darker colors than the first brood. 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 the species overwinters in
south Texas.
Life cycle[edit]
Larval and pupal stages[edit]
Red admiral larvae measure approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length. Their coloration is variable, but
they are usually black with white spots and spines. These spines persist into the pupal phase.[8]
In laboratory tests where larvae were reared at various constant temperatures, a difference in pupal
period and coloration was found. At higher temperatures, around 32 degrees Celsius (90 °F), the
pupal period of the red admiral is 6 days. At 11 to 18 degrees Celsius (51 to 64 °F) this period
increases to 18 to 50 days. At even lower temperatures around 7 degrees Celsius (45 °F), the pupal
period lasts between 47 and 82 days. The pupae are bright scarlet at high temperatures and black
with a smaller scarlet area at low temperatures.[9] This differential coloration at various temperatures
may explain why the summer form of the red admiral is brighter and more heavily pigmented than
the winter form.[5]
The primary host plant for the red admiral is the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), but it can also be
found on the false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), Pennsylvania pellitory (Parietaria) and other species
within Urticaceae.[6] Certain plants of the families Compositae and Cannabaceae may also be used as
hosts.[10]
Adult stage[edit]
The red admiral is identified by its striking black, orange, and white wing pattern. On the dorsal side,
its dark wings possess orange bands on the middle of the forewings and the outer edge of the
hindwings. The distal ends of the forewings contain white spots. The ventral side of the wings are
brown with patches of red, white, and black. The hindwings have a brown marbled pattern. The red
admiral has summer and winter morphs. Summer red admirals are larger and more pigmented than
winter morphs. The wingspan ranges from 1.75 to 2.50 inches (4.4 to 6.4 cm).[11]
Eggs

Early instar

Late instar

Chrysalis

 
Adult butterfly (dorsal)

Adult butterfly (ventral)

Territoriality[edit]
Male red admirals are territorial and perch during the afternoon until sunset. Larger territories are
optimal and subject to intrusion by other males more frequently than smaller territories. Territories
tend to be oval, 8–24 feet (2.4–7.3 m) long and 13–42 feet (4.0–12.8 m) wide. Males patrol their
territory by flying around the perimeter between 7 and 30 times per hour. On average, territory
holders interact with intruders 10 to 15 times per hour.[12]
When another male encroaches on a red admiral's territory, the resident chases away the intruder,
often in a vertical, helical path to disorient or tire out the intruder while minimizing the horizontal
distance it travels from its perch. The red admiral immediately returns to its territory after chasing off
encroaching males. Time spent patrolling increases as number of the intruder interactions increases.
[13]
Patrolling behavior is correlated with warmer air temperatures, so males begin patrolling early and
continue later on warmer days.[12] Overcast skies usually led to patrolling later in the day. It is not
clear whether this later start time is due to lower air temperature or a direct effect of decreased solar
radiation. Another theory is that males believe it is earlier in the morning on cloudy days because of
the reduced solar radiation.[13]
Mating[edit]
Male red admirals court females for several hours before they begin mating. Because of female
choice, only males with territory have the opportunity to mate. Females select males with traits that
will increase the mating success of their offspring. In order to maintain their territory, males fly
around and patrol the area 7 to 30 times per hour. Only males of exceptional flying ability are able to
chase off intruding males and successfully court females.[14]

Vanessa atalanta on flower, Mount Dikti

Migration[edit]
Mating usually occurs in late fall or early winter following collective migration to southern regions
with a warmer climate. The red admiral's main host plant, stinging nettle, is most abundant during
this migration. Larval development proceeds through winter and adults are first sighted in early
spring. The new generation of adults migrates north before mating, because food is usually
diminished by late spring.[15] During migration, the red admiral flies at high altitudes where high-
speed winds carry the butterfly, requiring less energy.[16]
Physiology[edit]
Vision[edit]
Red admirals have color vision in the 440–590 nm range of the visible spectrum which includes indigo,
blue, green, and yellow. They have compound eyes with a transparent, crystalline structure called
a rhabdom which is similar in function to a human retina. These butterflies do not have the specific
lateral filtering pigments coating their rhabdom found in some other nymphalid butterflies that likely
evolved later. A consequence of this lack of pigment is that the red admiral cannot differentiate
between colors in the 590–640 nm range, which includes orange and red. In species such as the
monarch butterfly that express these lateral filtering pigments, higher wavelengths of light are
altered, so they can excite the sensory photopigments. This physiological difference between butterfly
species provides insight into the evolutionary adaptation of color vision