Vanessa atalanta - Red Admiral - Atalanta - Admiral
The uppersides of this handsome butterfly are velvety vlack with a red stripe through the centre of the forewing and a red margin to the hindwing. There are also several white spots near the tip of the forewing. The undersides are mottled greyish brown, marked with red, white and blue on the forewing. After a short hibernation in the south (Mediterranean) he arrives in The Netherlands in May and stays till October. The new generation will fly to the south when temperatures become low. This wide-ranging migratory butterfly can be found almost anywhere with flowers and ripe fruit. They often drink sap oozing from wounded trees and are also found of over-ripe and fermenting fruit, often they become a little 'drunk'. The Red Admiral is often common in gardens. The larval foodplant is Stinging Nettle.
This link will lead you to the metamorphosis of the Red Admiral.
This link will lead you to the metamorphosis of the Red Admiral.