Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
The Red Admiral is a common and regular migrant to the UK which in mild winters also survives here (primarily in the south of England) so some of the population are from resident stock.
This large black butterfly with a flash of vivid orange-red across its forewings and around the edge of its rear wings and a splatter of white spots towards its wing-tips is a common sight in our gardens during mid-late summer. They are often found nectaring on garden Buddleias, Michaelmas Daisy or Ice Plant or during late summer/early autumn seen feeding, often in large numbers on flowering Ivy and rotting fruit in gardens and orchards.
Sightings of the Red Admiral can continue well into November on sunny days and they are often reported during December, January and February when almost all other species of butterfly are unlikely to be seen.
Larval Food plants
Common Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Small Nettle (Urtica urens)
Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica)
Hop (Humulus lupulus)
Habitat Requirements
Anywhere in the UK where abundant nectar sources are available and Common Nettle, the larval food plant can be found.
Warwickshire Status
Migrant
Where to see the Red Admiral
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Other Species
Please select an alternative species from the list below.
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Steven Cheshire - Nuneaton, Warwickshire |
First Sightings
First sighting dates are based on records of Red Admiral submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms.
| 02/02/2010 - Baddesley Ensor |
| 27/02/2009 - Furnace End |
| 17/01/2008 - Warwick |
| 19/01/2007 - Wolston |
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| The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Red Admiral in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. |
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Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull
Distribution of the Red Admiral during the indicated period.
Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings  1 2-9 10+ |
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