Red Admiral Butterfly on Beach Coordinating Items Pinback Button

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies are smallish in size but strong, jerky fliers that migrate. We've seen them up to five miles from shore while fishing, and they regularly fly onto the beach from the ocean. The caterpillars eat nettles while adults like fermented fruit and bird droppings (ewwww!). They get their name from the red bands on the top of the wings. The underwings (pictured here) are mottled earth tones which act as camouflage.