Vanessa atalanta

Red Admiral
dorsal view
ventral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Vanessa
Species: V. atalanta
Binomial name
Vanessa atalanta
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies
  • V. a. atalanta
  • V. a. rubria (Fruhstorfer, 1909)[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio atalanta Linnaeus, 1758
  • Pyrameis ammiralis Godart, 1821
  • Pyrameis atalanta Godman & Salvin, [1882]
  • Vanessa atalanta Dyar, 1903[1]

The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe, Asia and North America. The Red Admiral has a 45–50 mm (1.8–2.0 in) wing span.[2] The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring, and sometimes again in autumn.

This medium-sized butterfly is identified by its striking dark brown, red, and black wing pattern. More specifically, the dark wings possess orange bands that cross the fore wings and on the outer edge of the hind wings; white spots on the dorsal fore wings near the front margin; reddish bars on dorsal surface of all four wings. The caterpillar feeds on nettles, and the adult drinks from flowering plants like the Buddleia and overripe fruit.

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,[3] re-emerging individuals showing prominently darker colourings than first brood subjects. 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 this species over-winters in south Texas.

The Red Admiral is the butterfly featured by Vladimir Nabokov, an amateur lepidopterist, in his novel Pale Fire.

Life cycle

Host plants

Plants of the nettle family (Urticaceae) including stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), tall wild nettle (U. d. gracilis), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), pellitory (Parietaria pennsylvanica), mamaki (Pipturus albidus), and possibly hops (Humulus).

Etymology

Atalanta is a figure in Greek mythology, a strong yet feminine woman who faces obstacles and backlash for refusing to follow gender norms.

References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 Vanessa, funet.fi
  2. ↑ Shalaway, Scott (2004). Butterflies in the Backyard. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 38. ISBN 0-8117-2695-9.
  3. ↑ Scott, J. A. (1999). Hibernal diapause of North American Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 18(3):171-200.

Further reading

External links

External identifiers for Vanessa atalanta
Encyclopedia of Life 154665
Also found in: Wikispecies
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanessa atalanta.
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