Red Admiral

One of our most common butterflies so far this year has been the handsome Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). Though they overwinter as adults further south in Europe, they don't do so successfully very often in Britain, so most (or all) of the ones we see here are migrants from the mainland. According to Collins Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe, these butterflies spend a lot of time basking on walls (like the one I photographed was doing) and rock faces. They lay their eggs on the tip of a leaf (preferably one in a sunny spot), and once the larva hatches, it rolls the leaf up and feeds from within the rolled-up tube. They're one of the reasons we leave a bit of Common Nettle standing in a corner or two of the garden; that and various pellitory species are among the host plants for the larvae, while the adults love any nectar-rich flower. We'll be seeing them right through October — or even later, if it stays warm enough!