Red Admiral Butterfly

Vanessa atalanta

Photos have been downgraded in size and quality for Internet bandwidth (copyright e-barrett)

For identification of butterflies, both the top and side views are shown.

A fresh Red Admiral butterfly (above left, February), a more faded specimen (above right) and a darker individual (below right)

They used to be all immigrants to UK but now, with warmer winters, some may hibernate here through the winter

The colourful side view
   

 

  
   

Above photo of Red Admiral by Bob Clark (2006) and included with his permission

Another Red Admiral by Bob Clark (2007); how does he coax these butterflies onto his hand?
   
FOREIGN RED ADMIRALS:  

Red Admiral Butterfly

Vanessa vulcania

Tenerife variant Red Admiral Vanessa vulcania: less white on wingtips, darker red, more black on red bands -- more like chain links than red band