Black butterfly with orange lines and white spots

The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a black butterfly with distinctive reddish-orange forewing band and white spots. They were named after the red chevrons on a naval uniform.

They are a seasonal colonist in Michigan. The population fluctuates considerably from year to year. This appears to be a good year. I've had lots of customers asking question about them.

Mature Red Admirals tend to feed on fermenting fruits, sap from trees and flower nectar. If you want to make your birdbath into a butterfly feeder you can soak a sponge in hummingbird nectar and place it in the bath.

In North America, the Red Admiral generally has two broods from March through October. They are considered to be people-friendly butterflies that will approach and perch on human beings.

Source: Butterflies of Michigan by Jaret C. Daniels

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