Red Admiral

  • Family name: Nymphalidae/Brush-Footed Butterflies
  • General description: Black; forewing with red median band a white subapical spots; hindwing with broad red marginal band; ventral hindwing mottled black, brown, blue and cream
  • Field Marks: Black with red forewing band and red hindwing margin
  • Sexes: Appear similar
  • Wingspan: 58-76 mm
  • Life Cycle: Egg: Small, green, laid singly on host leaves Mature larva: Black with fine white mottling, a lateral band of white spots, and numerous black branched spines Chrysalis: Gray-brown
  • Number of Generations: Two or three generationsRed Admiral larva
  • Flight Season: Spring through fall
  • Abundance: Common
  • Habitat: Forest margins, woodland openings, swamps, stream margins
  • Larval Host Plants: Pellitory (Parietaria floridana), Stinging Nettle (Urtica urens), False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica)
  • Similar Species: No similar species
  • Additional Information: Larvae construct individual shelters on host by weaving leaves together with silk.
  • Range in Florida

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