Life Cycle of the Red Admiral Butterfly

The Red Admiral can be found in the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia.

It spends the winter in warm southerly regions such as Florida or the Mediterranean and then migrates north in Spring.

It is an easy species to breed, starting from eggs or young caterpillars any time between March and September.

The green eggs are laid singly on the food plant - Nettle or Pellitory. They are very tiny, less than 1mm, and strongly ribbed. After 4-5 days the caterpillar has developed and may be seen inside the eggshell. It has a blackish head and cream body when first hatched. This darkens as the caterpillar develops after the first moult.

Using silk the caterpillar joins leaves together to make a resting tent, often going outside for yet another feed. In this way it quickly develops through a total of 4 instars (stages). A fully grown caterpillar is nearly black with a prominent yellow splash on the side of each segment.

The fully grown caterpillar hangs downward in the shape of a letter J and turns to a chrysalid, often often possessing beautiful green and gold highlights. This normally takes place within a leaf tent (which has been opened for the photograph).

In due course, usually in the morning, the butterfly emerges and expands its wings.

Whilst the time to develop from young caterpillar to butterfly varies with temperature - the warmer the faster - the typical timespan at 70 deg F (20 deg.C) is 5 weeks.