Found throughout North Carolina, though generally uncommon, the Red Admiral is one of our most distinctive butterflies, with a bold reddish-orange stripes and white spots on brownish-black wings.

Scotland Co., NC 7/1/07.

Grayson Co., VA 7/25/10.

The underside of the hindwing has a cryptic pattern.

Same individual as above (as you can see, it isn't actually missing its right antenna).

Scotland Co., NC 7/1/07.

Scotland Co., NC 7/1/07.

Washington Co., NC 6/21/06.

Pitt Co., NC 8/18/02.

Pitt Co., NC 8/18/02.

The caterpillar host plants are various species in the Urticaceae (nettle family), such as Boehmeria cylindrica (False-nettle) and Laportea canadensis (Wood-nettle).

Croatan National Forest, Craven Co., NC 8/29/2012.

Croatan National Forest, Craven Co., NC 8/29/2012.