In March, our species of the month is one of our most familiar butterflies, the red admiral. This distinctive beauty is an unmistakable garden visitor and may be seen feeding on flowers on warm days. 

Starting each spring and continuing through the summer, red admirals migrate northwards from North Africa and continental Europe. The migrant females lay eggs and consequently there is an emergence of young butterflies from July onwards. They continue flying into October or November and are typically seen feeding on nectar-rich buddleias, flowering ivy, and rotting fruit. The most important and widely available larval foodplant is the common nettle.