Red Admiral
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Vanessa atalanta
Common & Widespread Butterfly in Britain.
The Caterpillar coloration is variable, but they are usually black with white spots and spines.
These spines persist into the pupal phase.
The Larvae feeds on Common Nettle.
The forewing of this Butterfly bears on a black ground an oblique vermilion band and a group of white subapical spots.
On the hindwing the larger portion of the distal margin is red, with a row of small black spots and at the anal angle an elongate blue spot.
The underside is partly variegated with blue; the forewing is on the whole similar in markings to the upper, while the hindwing is brightly variegated and clouded, bearing black markings.
Flight period is from March-October.