White admiral
It glides more than it flaps, alternating a few slow wingbeats with long, effortless glides through the dappled shade of woodland rides.
| Where | Shady deciduous woodland and rides |
|---|---|
| Size | 56 to 66 mm wingspan |
| When | April to September |
The White admiral shows a black upperside crossed by bold white bands, with a double row of black dots near the hindwing edge that distinguishes it from the closely related Southern white admiral, and a warmer brownish underside.
Caterpillars feed on honeysuckle growing in shade, and adults spend much of their time gliding along shaded woodland rides and clearings, visiting bramble blossom for nectar rather than more open flowers.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Black, White
Active
Day
To people
Visits bramble blossom; harmless to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Close in size at about 46 to 54 mm wingspan, but shows only a single row of black dots near the hindwing edge, compared with the double row of the White admiral.
Questions
Is the White admiral dangerous to people?
Visits bramble blossom; harmless to people.
When can you see the White admiral?
The White admiral can be seen from April to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Didier Descouens, CC BY‑SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Limenitis
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.