The Red Admiral, Vanessa Atalanta is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe, Asia and North America. This large butterfly is identified by its striking dark brown, red and black wing pattern. The caterpillars feed on nettles, the adults on flowering plants like the Buddleia, heather and over-ripe fruit. The Red Admiral has a very erratic, rapid flight. Males perch, on ridge tops if available, in the afternoon to wait for females, who lay eggs singly on the tops of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars eat and live within a shelter of folded leaves; older caterpillars make a nest of leaves tied together with silk. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. Adults hibernate. Looking for summer? … WWW.STOCKSHOT.NL can supply you with shots of wild flowers, beautiful sunsets, cornfields, beaches and butterflies .