A Red Admiral Sipping Water

Vanessa atalanta

During the heat wave in July I would find butterflies (if I was courageous enough to brave the heat and go outside) drinking water from damp areas in the bluestone driveway. Apparently, butterflies can sip molecules of water from the earth. If you dampen the earth, the butterflies will come drink. Here you can see the proboscis in the dirt while the butterfly drinks. I chose these two photographs so that you can see the top colorful part of the wings (below) and the brown, intricately patterned bottom of the wing (above).


Vanessa atalanta Red admiral butterfly

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Red Admiral 2

Vanessa atalanta

These little guys have been flitting about for a few weeks now. They look a bit tattered and worn. It has been unbearably hot here or a week, so blogging came to a stop because I couldn't stand the heat and I didn't want to run the computer in the heat. The weather looks like it is breaking now, the winds are increasing and it stayed in the 80s today. Rain is welcome at any time! 

Red admiral butterfly information

     Red admiral butterfly set on Flickr

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Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Caterpillar feeds on various plants in the nettle family (Urticaceae).In North America this butterfly invades the northern part of the continent every year and dies out.(Source: bugguide.net) I found the Vanessa Migration Project where you can inform the site of your Vanessa butterfly observations. It's something worth looking into if you watch butterflies. I'm going to add my observation of this butterfly.

Red Admiral Butterfly Set

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