Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral, Admiral, Le Vulcain)

Vanessa atalanta, also called Red Admiral or Admiral is a very eye-catching butterfly from Palaearctic ecozone (Europe). The first description was in 1758 by Linnaeus. With a wingspan of 5.0– 6.5 cm the Red Admiral is a small member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The butterfly is black and has red bands and white spots. The Red Admiral is a migrant butterfly.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 23.07.2006 Botanic Garden Vienna

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 15.08.2007 Schmetterlingsparadies Langschlägerwald

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 23.07.6 Botanic Garden Vienna

These are nice photos of Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral, Admiral, Le Vulcain). Vanessa atalanta is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Palaearctic (Europe).

Description

The forewings are black. The margin is ridged. On the wing leading edge there is a white spot. In the pinion there is a chain of little white spots. There is a broad, red band on the wing.
The underside is a copy from upside, but there are some differences. The pinion is grey. The broad band is pink. Between the band and the big white spot there is a blue ring.

The hind wings are black or dark brown. At the margin there is a red band with little black points. At the beginning of the red band there are two blue spots.
The underside is dark brown and marmorate. The margin is grey.

The body is dark brown or black.

Sex differences: None

Distribution

The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a very eye-catching butterfly of the Palaearctic ecozone (Europe) and Nearctic ecozone (North America). The distribution include whole Europe, the North of Africa and North America. You can see the Red Admiral until 2000 m sea level.

: This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Flight period

The flight period of the Red Admiral is from May to Oktober.

Larval food

Stinging-nettle

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1758 by Linnaeus. There is only one subspecies.

Vanessa atalanta rubria [Fruhstorfer, 1909]

The caterpillar is black or tawny with a yellowish strip at sinde and it is thorny. The pupa has no silken girdl. This species overwinters as imago.

Protection provisions / Red List

CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):

-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005)
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora

-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005)
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)
Red List of endangered species of Austria:

-not endangered (category +)- (see: www.roteliste.at/)
Regulation of the Viennese regional government:

-protected as imago- (see: www.wien.gv.at/recht/landesrecht-wien/rechtsvorschriften/html/l4800200.htm)