Red admiral

Vanessa atalanta
Red admiral
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Red admiral
Photo: Böhringer Friedrich, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Red admiral
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Red admiral is hard to confuse with any other species. Its wings are velvety black, with a wingspan of 5–6.5 cm. A bright red-orange band runs diagonally across the forewing, with white spots near the tip. The same red stripe with black dots borders the hindwing. The underside of the hindwings is mottled, and when the butterfly folds its wings, it almost disappears against the bark of a tree.

The Red admiral is a migrant. In spring, butterflies fly north from the Mediterranean, appearing in Ukraine in May and June to lay eggs on nettles. A new generation emerges in summer, and the most Red admirals are seen from August to October. In autumn, some butterflies fly back south; our frosts usually do not allow them to survive the winter.

In the Carpathians, the Red admiral can be found everywhere: in gardens, at forest edges, along forest roads, in meadows, and even on polonynas, where it flies during migrations. In autumn, butterflies gather in gardens on fallen pears, plums, and apples that are already fermenting, drinking sap from wounded trees and warming themselves on sunny walls.

The caterpillar lives alone on stinging nettle: it rolls a leaf into a 'envelope', secures it with silk, and feeds from the inside.

A close relative is the thistle butterfly. It is also a migrant, but its wings are reddish-orange with a black pattern, without red bands.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore877 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Hungary · Romania · Ukraine · Slovakia · Austria · Poland · Czechia · Serbia
Mountain ranges
Bükk, Mátra, High Tatras, Börzsöny and Cserhát, Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains, Nemira and Bodoc Mountains, Maramureș Mountains, Low Beskids, Bucegi Mountains, Harghita and Gurghiu Mountains
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

FAQ

Does the Red admiral hibernate in the Carpathians?

Usually not. It is a migrant: in spring, butterflies arrive from the south, and in autumn, part of the new generation flies back.

What do Red admiral caterpillars feed on?

On the leaves of stinging nettle. The caterpillar lives in a rolled leaf, like in an envelope.

Similar species

European peacockEuropean peacockAglais ioA bright butterfly with four 'eyes' on its wings. It hibernates as an adult, so it flies as early as spring; the caterpillar lives on nettles.
Small tortoiseshellSmall tortoiseshellAglais urticaeA reddish butterfly with black and yellow spots and blue dots along the edges of its wings. It flies from villages to polonynas and hibernates in attics.
Stinging nettleStinging nettleUrtica dioicaTall stinging herb near kolibas, pastures, and streams. Young leaves have long been used in borscht, and touching the stem causes a sting that lasts for several hours.

Where to meet it

Trails

Lumshory village – Mount Liutianska Holytsia – Lumshory villageHardOne-dayMarkedLumshory village loopvia Mount Liutianska HolytsiaElevation profile458–1 375 m22.5 kmascent 915 m≈ 7 h walkingLiuta village, via Mount Danylivska and Mount Liutianska Holytsia to Lumshory villageHardOne-dayMarkedLiuta village to Lumshory villagevia Mount Danylivska, Mount Liutianska HolytsiaElevation profile476–1 375 m22 kmascent 914 m≈ 7 h walkingLumshory village – Mount Liutianska HolytsiaModerateOne-dayMarkedLumshory village Mount Liutianska HolytsiaElevation profile443–1 375 m11.3 kmascent 932 m≈ 4.5 h walkingLiuta – Liutianska Holytsia – Lumshory (green route)HardOne-dayMarkedLiuta Lumshory (green route)via Liutianska HolytsiaElevation profile458–1 375 m21.9 kmascent 898 m≈ 7 h walkingSynevyrska Poliana – TersovataModerateOne-dayMarkedSynevyrska Poliana TersovataElevation profile697–1 140 m13.3 kmascent 401 m≈ 4 h walkingPolianska Huta village – Runa polonyna – Polianska Huta villageHardOne-dayPolianska Huta village loopvia Runa polonynaElevation profile423–1 480 m19.3 kmascent 1 288 m≈ 7 h walking
Lumshory village – Runa polonyna – Lumshory villageHardOne-dayMarkedLumshory village loopvia Runa polonynaElevation profile484–1 480 m22 kmascent 1 035 m≈ 7 h walkingTurychky village, via Runa polonyna to Lumshory villageHardOne-dayTurychky village to Lumshory villagevia Runa polonynaElevation profile274–1 480 m26.5 kmascent 1 206 m≈ 8.5 h walkingLumshory village – Runa polonynaModerateOne-dayLumshory village Runa polonynaElevation profile484–1 480 m18.3 kmascent 1 040 m≈ 6.5 h walkingLake Synevyr, via Mount Ozerna and Mount Kamianka to Synevyr villageHardOne-dayLake Synevyr to Synevyr villagevia Mount Ozerna, Mount KamiankaElevation profile660–1 578 m19.4 kmascent 1 192 m≈ 7 h walkingMount Nehrovets – Synevyr villageModerateOne-dayMount Nehrovets Synevyr villageElevation profile665–1 707 m17.1 kmascent 621 m≈ 5.5 h walkingStuzhytsia village – Mount KremenetsModerateOne-dayMarkedStuzhytsia village Mount KremenetsElevation profile450–1 144 m7.4 kmascent 694 m≈ 3 h walking

Waters and waterfalls

City lake in KolomyiaLakeCity lake in KolomyiaKolomyiaAfter touring the city, it's a good idea to relax and unwind by the water.Zhenetsky Hook waterfallWaterfallZhenetsky Hook waterfallMykulychynZhenetskyi Huk is one of the most convenient Carpathian waterfalls for tourists, as it is accessible by a direct,...Tysa River (Tisza)RiverTysa River (Tisza)RakhivThe Tysa (Tisza) is the main river of Zakarpattia. It begins on the north-eastern edge of Rakhiv, where the Chorna...

Mountain ranges: Maramureș Mountains, Gorgany. In other countries: 🇭🇺 Bükk, 🇭🇺 Mátra, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇭🇺 Börzsöny and Cserhát, 🇷🇴 Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains, 🇷🇴 Nemira and Bodoc Mountains, 🇵🇱 Low Beskids, 🇷🇴 Bucegi Mountains, 🇷🇴 Harghita and Gurghiu Mountains, 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇷🇴 Semenic Mountains, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 11.11.2026.