What is Red admiral?
{{Taxobox | name = Red admiral | image = Vanessa atalanta 2 Luc Viatour.jpg | image_caption = dorsal view | image2 = Vanessa_January_2008-2.jpg | image2_caption = ventral view | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Lepidoptera]] | familia = [[Nymphalidae]] | genus = '''''Vanessa''''' | binomial = ''Vanessa atalanta'' | binomial_authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)}} [[File:NZ Red Admiral (Vanessa gonerilla)-2 edit.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The [[New Zealand]] red admiral]] [[File:Painted Lady I IMG 3978.jpg|right|thumb|230px|Indian red admiral at [[Simla]], [[India]]]] The '''red admiral''' (''Vanessa atalanta'') is a well-known colourful [[butterfly]], found in [[temperate]] [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]]. It has a {{convert|45|-|50|mm|in|abbr=on}} wing span.<ref>Shalaway, Scott. 2004. ''Butterflies in the backyard''. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. p38 {{ISBN|0-8117-2695-9}}.</ref> The species is resident only in warmer areas, but [[Migration|migrates]] north in spring, and sometimes again in [[autumn]]. In northern [[Europe]], it is one of the last butterflies to be seen before [[winter]] sets in, often feeding on the flowers of [[common ivy|ivy]] on sunny days. The red admiral is also known to [[hibernation|hibernate]], re-emerging individuals showing prominently darker colourings than first brood subjects. The [[butterfly]] also flies on sunny winter days, especially in southern [[Europe]]. In [[North America]], the red admiral generally has two broods from March through October. Most of [[North America]] must be recolonized each spring by southern migrants, but this species over-winters in south [[Texas]]. Other red admiral species are: *The New Zealand red admiral ''Vanessa gonerilla''. *The Indian red admiral ''Vanessa indica''. == Painted ladies == [[File:Butterfly August 2008-3.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The painted lady, showing the underside of wings]] The painted ladies are a [[subgenus]] ''Cynthis'' of the red admirals. T