Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) on Buddleia

Image: © Evelyn Simak Taken: 8 Jul 2017

Red Admirals are commonly found in damp environments such as marshes, woods, fields, and well-watered gardens. These butterflies cannot stand extreme winter cold and migrate southwards during the winter months to warmer climates. During their migration they can be found in habitats ranging from subtropics to tundras. Buddleia is also known as summer lilac, butterfly-bush, or orange eye, and native to Sichuan and Hubei provinces in central China and Japan. It was first introduced to Europe in the late 19th century and can be found in many gardens although it is actually classified as an invasive species and apparently is a problem on British railways where it interferes with overhead power lines and obscures signals. Buddleia is recommended by butterfly conservationists because it is a valuable source of nectar for butterflies and other insects.

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