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Red Admiral Butterfly on Buttonbush 2

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Description

The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a well-known colorful butterfly in temperate Europe, Asia, and North America.  It only lives in warmer areas but migrates north in the Spring, and sometimes also in the Fall.  Its caterpillars feed on nettles, and it feeds on various flowering plants.  It is often one of the last remaining butterflies as the days grow cold, and has been known to hibernate, even venturing out on sunny winter days.  Butterflies surviving the winter are notably darker in color.  This is mostly so in Europe; in North America it usually does not survive the winter, and must re-colonize every Spring, though populations survive in Texas. 

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to eastern and southern North America. Common names include Buttonbush, Common Buttonbush, Button-willow and Honey-bells.  Hummingbirds and many insects feed from its nectar, including bees, and I've seen firsthand how attractive they are to butterflies.

Video: Red Admiral Butterfly on Common Buttonbush
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1824x1368px 1.52 MB
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