red admiral
Vanessa atalanta
Identification: Wingspan 1 3/4 - 3 inches. Upper surface of wings. Forewings have small white spots near apex and a red/orange band near the middle of the wing. Hindwings have red/orange bands near the base.
Habitat: Typically found in rich, moist bottomland woods, in forest openings (such as near stream courses), in city parks, or on ridge tops. Migrates north in Spring.
Garden Habit: Rapid, erratic flight. Males perch, on ridgetops, to wait for females. Females lay single eggs on tops of host leaves. Young caterpillars eat and live in tent of folded leaves.
Host Plants: Nettle family, including: Stinging nettle, false nettle, and wood nettle, hops vine.
Identification: Wingspan 1 3/4 - 3 inches. Upper surface of wings. Forewings have small white spots near apex and a red/orange band near the middle of the wing. Hindwings have red/orange bands near the base.
Habitat: Typically found in rich, moist bottomland woods, in forest openings (such as near stream courses), in city parks, or on ridge tops. Migrates north in Spring.
Garden Habit: Rapid, erratic flight. Males perch, on ridgetops, to wait for females. Females lay single eggs on tops of host leaves. Young caterpillars eat and live in tent of folded leaves.
Host Plants: Nettle family, including: Stinging nettle, false nettle, and wood nettle, hops vine.