Species of the Month: Red admiral
Take part in our wildlife survey
Have you seen our Species of the Month in Dorset? By reporting your sighting below, you can help us to build up a picture of the state of Dorset’s wildlife. We send the records of your sighting to DERC (Dorset Environmental Records Centre) who collate this information, providing the opportunity for local naturalists, conservation organisations and wildlife enthusiasts to work together to protect wildlife in Dorset. What’s more, when you complete our Species of the Month survey, your sighting will display on our interactive map below. This allows us to visualize the range of wonderful wildlife our supporters have spotted in their gardens, on their balconies or in their local green spaces throughout the year! So please help us help wildlife by filling in the form below. Thank you!
Species of the Month: Red admiral
Scientific name: Vanessa Atalanta
Layers
Identification
The red admiral is a large, distinctive, strong flying butterfly. It is mainly black in colour, with broad, red stripes on the hindwings and forewings, and white spots near the tips of the forewings.
Females have a wingspan of 70 – 78mm, whilst males are slightly smaller with a wingspan of 64 – 72mm.
Diet
In early spring red admirals will nectar at sallow catkins and the blossom of blackthorn and hawthorn. They will also visit dung and drink mineral salts from damp ground, as well as tree sap which allows them to emerge in early spring before the nectar-rich flowers are plentiful. In the summer they source nectar from dogwood, bramble, marjoram, ragwort, devil’s bit scabious, hemp agrimony, spear thistle, burdock and ivy blossom. In gardens they will also choose buddleia, ice plant and Michaelmas daisies.
They are often seen on fallen fruit in autumn when individuals can become ‘drunk’ feeding on fermenting fruit, often becoming more tame and landing on fingers.
Common nettles are chosen for egg laying, although small nettle, pellitory-of-the-wall, and hop may also be used.
Behaviour
This butterfly is primarily a migrant to our shores from North Africa and Continental Europe with the first major arrivals in late May and early June. Females arrive already mated so it is their offspring that we see in July through to autumn. During mild, sunny autumns they may be on the wing well into November and some will return south to the continent.
However, there is increasing evidence that this species is overwintering in the UK, particularly in the south counties such as Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Sussex. It is quite possible to see them flying on mild, sunny days in mid-winter. These surviving adults may lay eggs as early as January producing a new generation of adults in early May. There is also evidence that the larvae from eggs laid in late autumn can survive over winter, emerging as adults in early spring.
Did you know?
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Some cultures believe that butterflies carry messages from departed loved ones, and encountering a red admiral is interpreted as reassurance or guidance during challenging times. The red admiral is also often associated with positivity and good fortune.
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In most years this is one of the most common and widespread butterflies with numbers having increased in recent years. It is not a priority species for conservation and the future seems assured with abundant foodplant availability.
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In 2023 the red admiral topped Butterfly Conservation’s Big Garden Butterfly count with 248,077 recorded - an increase of 338% from 2022 and the first time this species has topped the charts.
Where can they be found?
Adult red admiral butterflies are very adaptable and can occur in almost any flower rich habitat throughout Britain or Ireland. They can also be found attempting to overwinter in houses, log piles, garden sheds and other sheltered places such as on the side of large trees in woodland, where they roost head down and are beautifully camouflaged.
How can I help?
The best way to help the red admiral butterfly is to provide it with a source of nectar by planting bramble, ivy, teasel, thistles, fleabane or buddleia. You could also plant plum and other fruit trees as this butterfly likes to feed on rotting fruit. It is also a good idea to leave ivy to grow so that there is shelter for them to roost during the colder months, as well as a source of food. If possible, leave a patch of nettles to grow for egg laying.
Top tips for looking after butterflies in your garden:
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Plant large clumps of larval food plants together.
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Aim for year-round flower interest, with early and late sources of nectar.
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Only use peat-free compost to help prevent damage to rare habitats.
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Delay cutting back in the autumn, tidying borders in later winter instead.
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Don’t use pesticides: these can affect all garden wildlife.
For more ideas of how to help butterflies visit here.
You could also get involved with Butterfly Conservation’s Garden Butterfly Survey and submit your counts every week throughout the year (not just for the Big Butterfly count). Butterflies are highly sensitive indicators of the health of the environment and by counting the butterflies that visit your garden throughout the year and sharing this data, it helps to provide evidence of how they are faring and what the best advice is for helping them.
Report your sighting
Help us build a more accurate picture of Dorset's wildlife by completing this form. Your records will be sent to DERC on the understanding that the information provided by the recorder will be entered onto a computerised database and may be used for nature conservation, research, education or be available to the general public. Your sighting will also appear on our Species of the Month map. You can change your communications preference at any time by contacting us on 01202 692033.
When you have completed the form, click the Submit button. Please note that once submitted it can take up to an hour for your sighting to populate the map.