European Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Context

For the first time ever in India, the European Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) has been recorded in Himachal Pradesh, specifically in the Dhauladhar mountain range near Dharamshala.

**About the European Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta):**

Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Type: Migratory butterfly species
Native Range: Widely found across Europe and North America
Recent Range Expansion: Also seen in South and Central Asia, with the last confirmed South Asian record in Pakistan (Lower Chitral, 2022) after a 93-year gap.
Key Characteristics:
Appearance: It is similar to the Indian Red Admiral (Vanessa indica)
Key Differences:
- Narrower and deeper crimson discal band
- Prominent white spot in the upper forewing (absent in Indian cousin)
Habitat & Diet:
Larval Host Plant: It feeds primarily on stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
- This plant is common in the Western Himalayas, possibly supporting the butterfly’s presence.
Altitude Noted in India: It is found at 2,500 meters elevation in Thatharna Hill.