| Photo Information |
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1213 W: 2 N: 4571]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (13826) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-08-26 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Exposure: f/6.3, 1/320 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-01-11 0:56 |
| Viewed: 839 |
| Points: 16 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch] |
Latin name = Vanessa atalanta
Geographic Range
The range of Red Admirals extends from northern Canada, throughout the United States, through Mexico, and as far south as Guatemala. This butterfly is also found in Hawaii, Europe, Northern Africa, New Zealand, and in Asia as far east as Iran.
Habitat
Red Admirals tend to be found in moist environments such as marshes, woods, fields, and yards. These butterflies cannot stand extreme winter cold and are forced to migrate southward during the winter months to warmer climates. During this migration they can be found in habitats ranging from subtropics to tundras. The caterpillar lives upon willows, poplars, and elms. Immature caterpillars tend to live amongst the leaves of these trees, while more mature caterpillars will construct a nest of leaves and silk.
Physical Description
The characteristic coloration of the Red Admiral Butterfly is a black hindwing with a red-orange marginal band; the dorsal forewing is also black with white markings near the apex. The wing span of the Red Admiral ranges between 1.75 and 3 inches. These butterflies tend to have a brighter coloration and a larger body mass during the summer months than during the winter. The legs and eyes of the Red Admiral tend to be hairy and the head is moderately large.
A mature caterpillar of the larvae stage is cyndrical in shape and has branching spines arranged in rows lengthwise.
Reproduction
Male Red Admirals are territorial butterflies that patrol their areas in order to find female mates. The males typically perch upon sunlit spots, in the mid-afternoon, to wait for females to fly by. Once fertilized, female Red Admirals will lay their eggs on the upper surface of host plant leaves. The majority of Red Admiral butterflies are double-brooded (two generations grow a year); however, in Canada and the northern part of the United States they are single-brooded (one generation a year), and in the southern United States they are triple-brooded (three generations a year).
The general life cycle of the Red Admiral butterfly goes from an egg, to a caterpillar (pupate in a chrysalis), that emerges as an adult. The adult then mates, oviposits, and starts the cycle again.
Behavior
Red Admirals are considered to be people-friendly butterflies that will approach and perch on human beings. In regard to other butterflies of their species, however, the male butterflies are known to be territorial in order to find a mate. Male Red Admirals generally claim an elliptically shaped area ranging between 4-13 m wide and 8-24 m long. To protect this area, the males will patrol their territorial boundaries up to thirty times an hour. If an intruder enters their area, they attempt to drive them away by out-flying and out-maneuvering the intruding butterfly.
Red Admirals tend to be fidgety and swift insects that rapidly change direction throughout the course of their flight. The species appears to be most active throughout the spring and fall months, its flight time lasts from March until November. Adult Red Admirals will hibernate throughout the winter months.
Food Habits
Mature Red Admirals tend to feed on fermenting fruits, bird droppings, and sap from trees. Adult Red Admirals are fond of nectaring at composite flowers, such as milkweed, aster, and alfalfa. The food sources for the larva include nettles from the genus Urtica, pellitory from the genus Parietoria, and hops from the genus Humulus.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The adult stage of the Red Admiral is rarely harmful because mature Red Admiral butterflies feed mainly on nectar. The caterpillar stage, however, can do tremendous damage to the plants that it feeds on. The plants the Red Admiral caterpillars tend to eat include nettles, hops, and pellitory.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The aesthetic beauty of the Red Admiral is one of the most underrated values of this species. Due to the Red Admirals wide-spread range throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, their beauty can be enjoyed by many. Red Admirals are often found nectaring at red clover, aster, and buddleia flowers; this combination of flowers and butterflies further enhances their aesthetic value.
Other Comments
The distinctive red-orange band across the wing of the Red Admiral makes this butterfly species easy to distinguish from other species. The common name "Red Admiral" compares this band to the chevrons on a naval uniform.
Contributors
Amanda Downing (author), Southwestern University.
Stephanie Fabritius (editor), Southwestern University.
References
Bitzer, .. September 24, 1999. "The Red Admiral and Painted Lady" (On-line). Accessed February 17, 2000 at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mariposa/homepage.html.
Holland, .. 1907. The Butterfly Book. New York: Doubleday, Page & Company.
Hubbell, S. 1993. Broadsides from the Other Orders. New York: Random House.
Kellogg, .. 1906. American Insects. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Opler, .., .. Stanford, .. Pavulaan. January 21, 2000. "Butterflies of North America" (On-line). Accessed February 15, 2000 at http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/DISTR/LEPID/BFLYUSA/usa/224.htm.
Parenti, .. 1977. The World of Butterflies & Moths. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. |
jusninasirun, Ena, Juyona, ellis49, phlr, dejo has marked this note useful
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