Red admiral
It migrates south for winter. The journey outlasts one butterfly, so generations split the distance.
| Where | Anywhere with nettles, gardens, woodland edges |
|---|---|
| Size | 64 to 78 mm wingspan |
| When | March to November |
The caterpillar folds a nettle leaf into a tent with silk and spends the day inside. A curled nettle leaf usually has one in it.
In autumn it goes for fallen fermenting fruit. The butterfly opening and closing its wings under a fig tree is usually this one.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Red, Black
Active
Day
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Orange-pink with black tips; the red admiral's bands are true red on near-black.
Questions
Is the Red admiral dangerous to people?
The Red admiral is harmless to people.
When can you see the Red admiral?
The Red admiral can be seen from March to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Natural History Museum, CC0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Brush-footed butterflies›Vanessa
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.