Vanessa atalanta
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Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
[Photo] A Red Admiral butterfly - Vanessa atalanta. Photo taken by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson. Taken using a Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D DSLR in Southern Illinois on June 26th, 2007. Lens - 18-70mm, 4/5f. Copyright (C) 2007 Kenneth Dwain Harrelson
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The Vanessa atalanta or Red Admiral is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe, Asia and North America. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring, and sometimes again in autumn.
This large butterfly is identified by its striking dark brown, red and black wing pattern. 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 pale fire of ivy flowers on sunny days. The Red Admiral is also known to hibernate, 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.
More Photos at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vanessa_atalanta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_atalanta
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