Red Admiral
I was able to spend a little time today looking for butterflies here in Allegany State Park. These guys appear to be everywhere right now and are have an irruption year. The last time we had an irruption of Red Admirals was back in 2001 when I was working for another nature center. Not sure if this is weather related or not . . . . but it is still fun finding them just about everywhere.
They can be seen almost anywhere in North America except the very far northern tundra. They are commonly seen in the forest openings, gardens, along streams and even in city parks. They are unmistakable with their red-orange slash and white spots on their outer part of their forewing. The underside is exquisitely multicolored in browns. Now get out and look for these awesome butterflies.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Ohhh, pretty Red Admiral photo – love the video too! Okay, must be getting late for me, but what’s an irruption year and what’s an interruption of Red Admirals? Hey, glad to see this one isn’t on scat!
15 July 2007 at 9:49 pm
Irruption is what I ment! Whoops, I did edit the one interruption that I did! Thanks!
ir·rup·tion [ i rúpshən ] (plural ir·rup·tions) rapid increase: a very rapid and pervasive increase in the numbers of something
15 July 2007 at 10:03 pm
I wondered the name of those butterflies. Now I know! Your camera takes such great pictures. You either must be able to get very close to the subjects or you have a great zoom lens. Great pictures. I think I say that every time I post, but it is true.
15 July 2007 at 11:04 pm
I thought that I have seen more of these guys than usual. How interesting… Do they have a specific food plant, or do they eat just about anything?
16 July 2007 at 12:37 pm
@ Linda – thanks and they are everywhere right now! I try to do a little of both with both cameras.
@ Jeremy – I should know off hand what their host plant is, but not sure!
17 July 2007 at 9:35 pm
Thanks for the explanation Tom! I learn something new here all of the time! Thanks!
17 July 2007 at 10:02 pm
Yeah, we’ve had hundreds all around us, including one I saw that had a ‘grayscale’ ventral side – there were only the barest blues to be found along the back wing, and none of the reds and pinks and dark blues normally there – it was fairly odd.
Glad that you had time to get out for some butterflies.
18 July 2007 at 9:41 am
@Jeremy, the host plants are all within the nettle family (Urticaceae), which near us means mostly Stinging Nettle – lucky us!
18 July 2007 at 9:43 am
These insects are beautiful but they may damage crops ans other things of economic interest to mankind. Although nature tries to keep a check n them still sometimes they may become a nuisance.
9 September 2010 at 7:48 am