Gallery 3 - Earth Bound   >   Down to Earth   >   Critters  >   Red Admiral Butterfly

We were visited by hundreds of these beautiful butterflies the summer of 2012. It was the first time we have ever seen them in Ottawa. They are smaller than Monarchs and apparently eat the leaves of nettles (those awful prickly plants that you hate to touch). Warmer winters have allowed them to grow in large numbers and move furthur north. It looks like they have a fur coat on. Perhaps they are well suited for living in the north!

The butterflies were attracted to our flowering Peegee Hydrangea tree. Bees were too.

The colourful markings resemble a peacock.

One finally opened it's wings to show its colours.