Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies of Dayton, Ohio

Red Admiral

Red Admirals are visitors from the south. Their numbers fluctuate from year to year, but they are usually common to abundant in our area. 

This Red Admiral is nectaring on an echinacea flower (purple coneflower). Red Admirals are particularly fond of coneflower nectar. 

Their numbers drop off precipitously after July, but a few stragglers can persist until late in the fall. My personal late sighting for this species is November 11th. 

Seen from below, Red Admirals have a red/ blue/ white pattern along the upper edge of their wings. A patriotic butterfly! 

Red Admiral butterflies are most common in spring and early summer. My earliest sighting is March 25th.