Red admiral

Dark wings slashed with a band of brilliant red-orange and tipped with white spots make the red admiral one of the easiest butterflies to know. It is common and often remarkably bold, sometimes landing on people.

Red admirals are fast, erratic fliers of gardens, parks, and woodland edges. They are drawn to tree sap, fermenting fruit, and flowers, and males defend sunny afternoon perches.

Caterpillars feed on nettles, folding a leaf into a silk shelter. Despite the stinging host, the butterfly is a garden favorite wherever nettles grow nearby.

Adults nectar at many flowers; a garden with late-season blooms will hold them well into fall. The plants below carry documented red admiral records.