Butterfly Conservation
Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Saving butterflies, moths and our environment

Species

Brimstone Brown Argus Brown Hairstreak Chalkhill Blue Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Green Hairstreak Green-veined White Grizzled Skipper Holly Blue Large Skipper Large White Marbled White Meadow Brown Orange-tip Painted Lady Peacock Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Silver-washed Fritillary Small Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak
Red Admiral (m) 2016 - Dave Miller Red Admiral (f) 2017 - Peter Clarke

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta


Common migrant/resident


Red Admiral branch distribution

Distribution and Status

The Red Admiral is our most common migrant and is widely distributed in the two counties. Numbers vary greatly year by year but there is an upward long-term trend in abundance probably because of climate warming in Europe facilitating increased migration. An increase in home-bred specimens is also a possibility due to climate warming. In addition, there is evidence of more very early sightings suggesting that overwintering by adults and larvae is more prevalent

Habitat Requirements

Every habitat type including parks and gardens although it is less common on arable land

Larval Foodplants

Common Nettle Urtica dioica. Hop Humulus lupulus and Pellitory-of-the-Wall Parietina diffusa are other foodplants reported

Adult Food Sources

Buddleia Buddleja davidii, Ivy Hedera helix, Iceplant Sedum spectabile, Apple fruit Malus domestica, Confused Michaelmas Daisy Aster novi-belgii

Behaviour/Observation notes

Males in spring and early summer are largely territorial along woodland rides, for example, and are difficult to approach. However, in late summer and autumn, when both sexes are feeding on flowers in gardens, ivy in hedgerows or rotting fruit then they are more approachable for close-up photographs

Red Admiral branch phenology

Life History

The Red Admiral can probably now be considered as a resident species because there is ample evidence of successful overwintering in the adult stage and possibly also in an immature stage since many specimens are now seen in the early spring before the migrants arrive in May and June. The migrants and any overwintered or spring individuals will produce a new generation later in the summer, often reaching a peak in September which may be supplemented by another influx from Europe. Eggs are laid singly on the upper surface of fresh leaves most often in a sunny but sheltered spot. Larvae form silken tents using the edges of a leaf. Pupation takes places within one of these tents

Further information

UK distribution map
Full list of larval hostplants and adult food sources on Peter Hardy's database
Stevenage butterflies - additional notes

 


 

Copyright Butterfly Conservation © 2019 Hertfordshire & Middlesex Branch
Privacy and Copyright Statement and Cookie Policy Statement
Butterfly Conservation
Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)
Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP. Tel: 01929 400 209
Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268). VAT No. GB 991 2771 89