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Red Admiral
Red Admiral (vanessa atlanta)
Red admiral - topwing
Wingspan - 65 -75 mm - female larger
Contrary to popular understanding, the red admiral was exclusively a migrant butterfly to the UK that arrived in spring and bred here. Climate change has almost certainly altered the red admiral's status, and it can now be regarded as semi resident.
The name Red Admiral has almost became generic for any of the UK's nymphalidae or bright winged butterflies (especially in confusion with the small tortoiseshell), but as can be seen, the flashes of scarlet are all that it has in reference to the redness of its name. The term admiral comes from the Victorian epithet admirable and has no reference to seafaring.
*This large hardy butterfly is a powerful flyer and in the warmest winters comes out of hibernation and flutters in the weak January/February sun.
Habit: fly's far and wide in our area and at any time - often seen in rough uncultivated parks and gardens and along woodland margins where nettles grow. In former times, the butterfly was often seen on the rotting fruit from the many plum trees cultivated in larger gardens and orchards.
Single brooded: migrates to the UK as a butterfly now over winters - the larvae are typically spiny turning darker and dispersing to pupate.
Larval Foodplant: stinging nettle and others, eggs laid in a group hibernaculum.
Status: not under threat
WH - White Hill Shoreham, BC - Bromley Common, Ha Hayes --BN Bromley North - Ey Eynsford - Orp Orpington BIC- Bickley etc
Thanks to Howard and David for their valued participation