Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Wingspan: 1 3/4-2 1/4″. Above; black with orange-red bar across middle of forewing and hindwing border. Below: black and brown marbling with pink bar on forewing. Usually unable to overwinter in Maine; repopulates each spring by immigrants from more southern areas.

• Territorial behavior; may be found in same place for several days or weeks. Opens its wings while resting or feeding.

Habitat: Moist woods, yards, parks, marshes, moist fields, and streams banks.

Larval food plants: Members of the nettle family, pincushion flower, tree sap.

Adult food: Sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, bird droppings. When these are not available, they will use nectar from flowers such as common milkweed, red clover, aster, and goldenrod.