
Painted Lady
A large and strong-flying butterfly and common in gardens. This familiar and distinctive insect may be found anywhere in Britain and Ireland and in all habitat types.
Starting each spring and continuing through the summer there are northward migrations, which are variable in extent and timing, from North Africa and continental Europe. The immigrant females lay eggs and consequently there is an emergence of fresh butterflies, from about July onwards. They continue flying into October or November and are typically seen nectaring on garden buddleias or flowering Ivy and on rotting fruit.
There is an indication that numbers have increased in recent years and that overwintering has occurred in the far south of England.
In Britain and Ireland, the most important and widely available larval foodplant is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). However, Small Nettle (U. urens) and the related species, Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria judaica) and Hop (Humulus lupulus) may also be used.
Can be found in almost any habitat from gardens to sea-shores and from town centres to the top of mountains!
Adam Gor
Adam Gor
Red Admiral (upperwing) - Iain Leach
Iain Leach
Red Admiral (upperwing) - Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Chris Barlow
Chris Barlow
Tamás Nestor
Tamás Nestor
Red Admiral (underwing) - Adam Gor
Adam Gor
Red Admiral on Ivy - Iain Leach
Red Admiral on Ivy - Iain Leach
Red Admiral (egg) - Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles
Ken Dolbear
Ken Dolbear
Red Admiral (caterpillar) - Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles
Andrew Cooper
Andrew Cooper