Red Admiral

Natural history and identification

The red admiral is an active butterfly whose reproduction includes females selecting foliage on which to lay eggs. The adult, caterpillar, and chrysalis are distinct identification stages. Records of adults visiting flowers or moving through an area are weaker evidence of a breeding population than an identified immature stage on its food plant. The cited life-history account is not a Kauaʻi population study.

Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence

Atlas occurrence category: Present. The Kauaʻi record is classified as “Present”. Its cited evidence source is iNaturalist Kauaʻi checklist.

Account coverage

Published species details have been added. A complete Kauaʻi-specific account of identification, habitat, feeding, reproduction, and population trend is not yet established by the sources linked here.

Names and classification

Scientific name

Vanessa atalanta

Common names

Red Admiral

Family

Nymphalidae

Order

Lepidoptera

Record type

species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Introduced

Conservation status

Not assessed

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal description

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) belongs to Nymphalidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status is introduced.

Sources and further reading

• iNaturalist Kauaʻi checklist
• Natural history and identification — species source