Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Red Admiral,
Vanessa atalanta

Size: Wingspan is 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 inches.

Similar Species: None

Habitat: Fields, meadows, roadsides and gardens.

Abundance: Common in most of the state.

Flight Period: Found commonly from early April until early November. During warm spells the Red Admiral can be found during the winter, it has been found every month of the year here in North Carolina.

Comments: The top photo was the tiniest Red Admiral I`d ever seen it was found in my driveway on May 23, 2000. The center photo at right was taken on July 05, 2001 on Nodding Thistle in Grant County West Virginia.

The Red Admiral is considered to be the fastest flying butterfly. It likes to have a territory and it`ll defend it to whatever comes by! It will approach cars, people or other insects. It rarely nectars and can be found on tree sap, carrion and rotten fruit.

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Noted the orange/red on the forewing
usually doesn`t show when perched.

Red Admiral Chrysalis
that was found inside a False Nettle leaf!