The admiral, which is quite large with a wingspan of up to six centimetres, is unmistakable: the conspicuous butterfly can be clearly identified by the red bands on the front and rear wings. The Admiral butterfly travels over a thousand kilometers each year as it spends the winter in the warm south.

Admiral butterflies live for one to two years

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Characteristics
  3. systematics
  4. features
  5. Happen
  6. lifestyle and reproduction
  7. nutrition
  8. attract butterflies
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. the essentials in brief

    • the admiral butterfly belongs to the noble butterfly family
    • Originally from Southern Europe, it can now be found in Central Europe, Eurasia and North America
    • Nectar-rich forage plants such as bearded beard, lavender, thyme or butterfly bushes attract the admiral and other butterflies to the garden
    • Since global warming, the Admiral butterfly no longer hibernates south of the Alps but in south-west Germany or east France

    Characteristics

    • Scientific name: Vanessa atalanta
    • Family: Nymphalidae
    • Wingspan: five to six centimetres
    • Appearance: Basic color dark brown, prominent red bands in the middle, black with white spots on the outside
    • Distribution: over large parts of the northern hemisphere, v. a. Eurasia and North America
    • Habitat: Forests, meadows and gardens
    • Nutrition: mainly flower nectar (nektarivor)
    • Social behavior: loner
    • Daily rhythm: diurnal
    • Mating season: in Central Europe between May and June
    • Lifespan: one to two years
    • Related species: various subspecies in Europe and North America

    systematics

    The diurnal admiral belongs to the Nymphalidae family, which includes around 200 different species in Germany alone. There are around 6000 different species worldwide, many of which are endangered. In Germany, the peacock butterfly, the large and small tortoiseshell and the painted lady also belong to this group. Like all butterflies, the admiral usually keeps its wings folded and closed when sitting, which sometimes makes identification difficult - especially since the coloring of the wings differs greatly on the upper and lower sides. Like other noble moths, Admiral butterflies also have three pairs of legs, of which the front one is greatly shortened and lies close to the body. It is primarily used for body care, but is also used for touching, tasting and smelling.

    digression

    Can the Admiral butterfly be confused with other species?

    Due to its unmistakable wing coloration, the Admiral butterfly should not be confused with other noble butterflies. However, the variance in coloring is quite large in some places, so that there used to be a whole range of subspecies. In the meantime, many of these have turned out to be merely variations of one and the same species.

    features

    The admiral's striking coloring ensures that you can easily identify it if you sight it. The most important identifying features of the butterfly, which is quite large with a wingspan of up to 6.5 centimetres, can be found in the following table.

    wing part coloring Other features
    Basic coloring of fore and hind wings dark brown Forewing tips black with white spots of varying size
    middle forewing wide red bandage female animals often have a white dot in the middle of the bandage
    Rear wing wide red band on the outer edge Black dots arranged in a row are located in the middle of the bandage
    Outer edges of forewings and hindwings lined with white fine line The line is not continuous, but has small, black dots
    Fore wing underside white, black, red and blue patterned -
    Hind wing underside brown to brown-violet marbled -

    The caterpillars of the admiral grow up to four centimeters in length and can look quite different depending on the region. As a rule, they are yellowish-grey or brown in colour, but can also be significantly darker to black-brown or even black. On the flanks there are often cream-colored spots of different sizes, which are also arranged in a row. However, these spots are not a reliable identification feature, since not all caterpillars have them.

    Happen

    The Admiral butterfly is originally from southern Europe

    In contrast to many other native butterflies, the admiral is not adapted to a specific habitat, but occurs in different habitats. The animals can be found in forests and pastures as well as on fields, in gardens or parks. In addition, admirals are found both in the lowlands and at altitudes of up to 2000 meters. The admiral originally came from southern Europe, where it still spends the winter today.

    Incidentally, the Admiral butterfly is not only found in Central Europe, but also in other parts of Eurasia and in North America, where different subspecies can be found. These usually migrate as well.

    digression

    When is the best time to see the Admiral butterfly?

    In Central Europe, the admiral can be observed between May or June and into October. Overwintering specimens have also rarely been spotted during the autumn or winter months, but these usually die with the first frost. Exceptions are admirals wintering in the southwest of Germany, who seem to find suitable conditions here.

    lifestyle and reproduction

    "The caterpillar says: It's the end. The butterfly says: It is the beginning." (unknown)

    The caterpillars of the Admiral butterfly are pretty to look at, but cause feeding damage to plants

    The immigrated admirals can be seen particularly often between May and June, because their mating season falls during this period. The males often wait in elevated places - for example on hills - for the females to fly by. The female then lays her light green eggs individually on nettle shoots, unlike other butterfly species such as the Lesser Tortoiseshell or the Peacock Butterfly. The caterpillar that hatches from this builds a veritable nest from the leaves and other parts of the plant, in which they roll up for protection. As soon as this dwelling withers, they build a new one.

    The caterpillars feed for a month before finally pupating. The brownish colored pupa seems quite small in relation to the finished moth, but one of them hatches after another 14 days. The young Admiral butterfly is only sexually mature after a further 40 days, although in our latitudes there is only one generation per season anyway. From October the moths move south again, where they spend the winter and also mate and lay eggs there. In some years the caterpillars can appear in large numbers, but they are not dangerous to humans, animals or plants.

    This article shows how reproduction works in butterflies and how a small caterpillar turns into a magnificent moth:

    youtube

    The Wandering of the Admiral

    The Admiral butterfly is one of the so-called migratory butterflies that, like migratory birds, fly south every year from October and return to Central Europe at the end of winter. The next generation that hatched here also sets off on the arduous journey in autumn, after all this behavior is primarily genetic. Incidentally, every admiral only makes the arduous journey once in his life: either to the south or to the north, where he then mates and lays his eggs.

    On the other hand, where the moths fly is determined by environmental factors such as the climate and the food supply. For this reason, many admirals no longer cross the Alps, instead wintering in southwest Germany or eastern France. Due to global warming, the animals have found suitable conditions here for several years.

    Although admirals can in principle fly several thousand kilometers and even cross high mountains, they are comparatively slow with an average speed of between seven and 15 kilometers per hour and about ten beats per second - completely different from the nocturnal swarmers, which can travel up to 50 kilometers per hour belong to the fastest butterflies. No wonder, then, that the admiral needed about two weeks for the approximately 1,000 to 2,000 kilometer route between Central Europe and southern Europe or North Africa.

    digression

    How does the admiral find the right path?

    How or by what means peregrine butterflies like the admiral orient themselves on their way has not yet been extensively researched scientifically. Nevertheless, biologists have made assumptions that were partly confirmed by stimulation. The theory that the moths follow the sun is considered probable. However, it has not yet been possible to confirm or rule out that butterflies also follow the earth's magnetic field.

    Why do butterflies like the Admiral migrate at all?

    Why the admiral is leaving his traditional home regions to spend the summer in Central Europe has not yet been sufficiently clarified. The animals probably flee their homes in the summer to counteract the drought and food shortages there. However, another possible explanation is that the animals simply randomly expand their area and possibly follow atavistic behaviors. These are genetically shaped migrations, which, however, originate from different climactic times and have not yet adapted evolutionarily. This in turn also explains why so many of these butterflies freeze to death in this country because they did not return in time.

    This short video provides impressions of the long journey of the Admiral Falter:

    youtube

    Which native butterflies are still migrating?

    In addition to the admiral, other native butterfly species also belong to the migratory butterflies and some even cover considerably longer distances:

    butterfly species Scientific name Happen distribution hike
    Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Europe, Asia, North Africa, North Africa, Australia Dry grassland, steppe areas at altitudes of up to 3000 meters fly to Europe between May and July, overwinter in southern Europe or North Africa
    Postillon (Big Post Squirrel) Colias croceus North Africa, Southern Europe, Central Europe, Turkey, Western Asia, Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands clover meadows does not winter north of the Alps
    skull moth Acherontia atropos tropical regions of Africa, but also North Africa and the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and western Asian countries, Central Europe to Iceland (the latter only during the summer months!) preferably dry, sunny regions with a high bush population and many nightshade plants does not winter north of the Alps, probably covers the longest route of all European migratory butterflies
    dovetail Macroglossum stellatarum large parts of North Africa, Europe and Asia little specialized in certain areas of life, many forage plants rich in nectar must be present fly fast - cover a distance of 3000 kilometers in around 14 days
    convolvulus moth Agrius convolvuli very large distribution area from the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa to northern Europe open, sunny and bushy landscapes fast fliers, reach top speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, therefore widespread, very sensitive to temperature

    nutrition

    The caterpillars of the Admiral butterfly feed mainly on stinging nettles in Central Europe, which is why they can be found wherever larger populations can be found. The adult animals, on the other hand, prefer to suckle on typical butterfly food plants such as the butterfly bush, but also sedum, water daisy or blackberries.

    In autumn, the animals recharge their batteries for the upcoming journey with energy-rich fallen fruit, preferring damsons and plums as well as pears. Fallen fruit is one of the most important food sources for the moth in autumn, as it provides a particularly large amount of energy. In addition, the moths also like to suckle on various autumn blossoms, but mainly on the blossoms of the ivy.

    How to attract Admiral butterflies to your garden

    Admiral butterflies love buddleia

    To attract an admiral butterfly to your garden, all you have to do is add some popular food plants to your beds. But even without new plants, the animals can be fed, especially in autumn, for example with so-called "moth filling stations".

    Suitable forage plants for the Admiral

    Summer lilac (Buddleja davidii), not without reason also known as butterfly lilac, is the perfect lure for the admiral as well as for other butterfly species such as white butterflies, the painted lady, the peacock butterfly and the little tortoiseshell. But bumblebees and bees also like to fly to the nectar-rich plant. The undemanding plant grows very quickly and is cut back vigorously in autumn or spring. It will then sprout again in the spring. You can choose from many different varieties with purple flowers (of various shades), pink or white flowers.

    If you want to offer the admiral a suitable nursery, you should leave stinging nettles in a sunny corner of the garden. In autumn, on the other hand, other plants that provide the butterflies with energy for their long journey become important: fruit trees (especially plums and pears) and ivy should not be missing in a butterfly-friendly garden. Whole swarms of migratory butterflies can sometimes cavort on these plants, which gladly accept the offer.

    Which food plants are still popular with butterflies?

    The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation recommends some particularly nectar-rich forage plants to attract butterflies such as the Admiral - but also other species - to the garden. When choosing a variety, make sure you give preference to the original species, and the flowers should be as simple and unfilled as possible - semi-double or double flowers are not suitable as forage plants, as the animals cannot get the nectar here.

    plant type Scientific name growth blossom location floor sorts
    beard flower caryopteris subshrub umbel-shaped, violet to violet, between August and September sunny dry to sandy, no waterlogging etc. 'Blue Fountain', 'Summer Sorbet', 'Heavenly Blue'
    blue pillow Aubrieta cushion-forming, carpet-forming various shades of purple or red, white, between April and May sunny fresh, well drained etc. 'Winterberg', 'Bressingham Red', 'Hamburger Stadtpark', 'Blue Tit'
    globe thistle Echinops ritro stiff, upright violet to violet-blue, between August and September sunny dry to moist, well-drained etc. 'Arctic Glow', 'Veitch's Blue', 'Blue Globe', Echinops bannaticus
    Sweet Thistle / Flat Leaf Man Litter Eryngium planum stiff, upright blue ball flowers between July and September sunny dry, well drained origin species
    Sedum / Big Bacopa Sedum telephium clumpy, bushy in umbels between August and September, different colours sunny nutritious, dry to fresh etc. 'Carbuncle Stone', 'Munstead Dark Red',
    Herbstaster / Raublatt-Aster Aster novae-angliae stiff, upright cup flowers of different colors between September and October, choose unfilled varieties sunny fresh, nutritious etc. 'Rudelsburg', 'Autumn lilac', 'Salmon glow', 'Violetta', 'Evening Sun'
    Purple toadflax Linaria purpurea stiff, upright purple panicle flowers between July and August sunny rather nutrient-poor, loamy to sandy origin species
    lavender Lavandula angustifolia stiff, upright single spike flowers in violet, pink or white between July and September sunny dry, rather nutrient-poor etc. 'Imperial Gem', 'Arctic Snow', 'Hidcote Pink', 'Munstead', 'Hidcote Blue'
    Tall Flame Flower / Phlox Phlox paniculata stiff, upright multicolored umbelliferous flowers between July and September sunny to semi-shady nutritious, fresh to moist etc. 'Dark Blaze', 'Kirmesländler', 'Pax', 'Purple Kiss'
    Eared splendor Liatris spicata stiff, upright purple or white spike flowers between July and September sunny fresh, permeable, rich in nutrients etc. 'goblin', 'alba'
    Mountain Alyssum Alyssum montanum clumpy, prostrate to erect yellow grape flowers between April and May sunny dry, rocky to gravelly origin species
    thyme Thymus vulgaris pillow-forming violet umbelliferous flowers between July and August sunny to semi-shady loamy-sandy, rather poor in nutrients origin species

    moth gas stations

    But not only the plants mentioned, but also so-called "moth filling stations" are suitable for feeding the admiral in autumn. To do this, provide malt beer mixed with a little honey (alternatively sugar water works) in a flat container. A flat saucer, for example, is well suited, which you simply place outside on a slightly raised spot.

    Why should you even attract butterflies to the garden?

    Insects have been declining in number for years, which of course also applies to butterflies. Many of the approximately 3,700 species native to Germany are struggling to survive, as they can hardly find any food thanks to modern agriculture and sterile gardens. This also affects the gardeners' willingness to experiment, because instead of native wild plants and shrubs rich in nectar, many hobby gardens grow sterile hybrid plants, exotic plants from far-off lands and green uniform lawns - if not all the green has already been crowded out by stones so that you don't have too much work. The targeted planting of forage plants is therefore an important step in helping endangered insects - such as the fascinating butterflies - and providing them with suitable food sources all year round.

    Can butterflies also be fed specifically? What to look out for

    Butterflies can be fed on sugar water

    Admirals are especially foraging in the fall. You can help the animals by leaving fallen fruit outside or feeding the butterflies with sugar water. Many an exhausted butterfly sitting on the ground could be saved in this way. And this is how you feed a butterfly correctly:

    1. Butterflies can only eat liquid food because they suck it up through their proboscis
    2. Therefore, prepare sugar water: heat water and dissolve some sugar in it, the ideal ratio being four parts water to one part sugar.
    3. Let the mixture cool down.
    4. Soak a sponge or kitchen towel in it.
    5. Alternatively, just drip some solution directly in front of the butterfly.
    6. Wait for the animal to use it on its own.
    7. Alternatively, some fruit juice or sliced, juicy fruit such as an orange are also suitable as food sources.

    Be careful not to get too dirty around the area around the butterfly and the food source, otherwise the animal could become entangled and unable to free itself. It becomes particularly dangerous when the wings stick together.

    Which species of butterflies can still be observed in gardens?

    In Germany there are around 170 different species of butterflies, some of which are quite common - such as the Admiral - while others are rather rare. The following species can be observed particularly often in our gardens:

    • Blue (Lycaenidae indet): different species with typical bluish wing colouring, occurring in different habitats
    • Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui): migratory butterfly, which is particularly found in regions with a lot of thistles
    • Big fox (Nymphalis polychloros): loves sun and warmth, is more common near the forest
    • Large Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae): widespread species found in almost all habitats
    • Lesser Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae): very common and widespread species, often observed in the garden
    • Lesser Cabbage White (Pieris rapae): common, little specialized butterfly
    • Swallowtail (Papilio machaon): strikingly large butterfly with characteristic yellow and black markings
    • Peacock butterfly (Aglais io): also common moth with characteristic eyespots
    • Mourning Cloak (Vanessa antiopa): dark brown moth with a wide, cream-colored border and pretty markings
    • Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni): pretty, bright yellow colored butterflies

    frequently asked Questions

    Is the Admiral butterfly an endangered species?

    The admiral is not yet considered threatened, but this could change quickly in view of climate change and the associated changes in cultural landscapes.

    What does the Admiral butterfly do in winter?

    Admirals usually do not overwinter in Central Europe, but fly to warm southern climes in October. They can cover several thousand kilometers. From there they return the following spring to mate and lay their eggs here. If an admiral misses the winter migration south, he dies with the first frost. Until a few decades ago, admirals regularly crossed the Alps to spend the winter in the Mediterranean countries or even in North Africa. In the meantime, however, there is a stable population that only flies to the Upper Rhine and spends the cold season there.

    Why is the Admiral Butterfly named after him?

    The admiral owes its name to its eye-catching wing markings, which are reminiscent of a military uniform.

    How long does the admiral butterfly live?

    Compared to other butterflies, the admiral is quite old: the butterfly can reach an age of between one and two years and only becomes sexually mature around 40 days after hatching.

    Does Admiral Butterfly have natural enemies?

    The conspicuous butterfly is on the menu of many bird species.

    tips

    So that butterflies can hide from their predators, you should set up a so-called butterfly hotel in the garden. Such also serves as a shelter for other beneficial insect species. Densely leafy trees and bushy shrubs, on the other hand, serve as hiding places for the animals in wet and cold weather.

Category:

Animals in the garden