Red Admiral, Immatures - Vanessa atalanta rubria

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ADULTS     ADULT EMERGING

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No. 1, Third or Fourth Instar weaving a nest  - Located larvae 19 July 2011
weaving a nest

No. 2 Fourth Instar -  Set to Molt - 19 July 2011
4th set to molt


No. 2 Fifth Instar - 22 July 2011
5th instar

No. 2 Fifth Instar - 22 July 2011
5th instar

No. 2 Fifth Instar - 22 July 2011
5th instar

Leaf partially sewn into a nest
nest started

Prepupa in "umbrella" nest.  When ready to pupate, a larva silks a leaf together upside down or in an "umbrella" position.
prepupa in umbrella nest

Umbrella nest
umbrella nest


Pupa

Pupa formed 25 July, photo taken on 28 July 2011
formed on 25 July 2011 - photo 28 July 2011
Pupa 6:11 A.M.. 2 August 2011
pupa showing development 6:11 A.M. 2 August 2011


 Pupa 6:11 A.M.. 2 August 2011
pupa at 6:11 A.M., 2 August 2011
Pupa 1 P.M. 2 August 2011 - Three hours before adult emerged
pupa 1 p.m. 2 August 2011
 Pupa 1 P.M. 2 August 2011 - Three hours before adult emerged
pupa three hours before adult emerged


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Larva  collected 2007
August 14th, 5th instar

Pupa - 2007
pupa inside nest

Pupa 2007
pupa pupa


Larva
August 14th, 5th instar
Photo Details - ©Nicky Davis
Nicky Davis & Todd Stout collected two larvae 19 July, 2011 in Lambs Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah
These larvae make a nest  by silking onto the edges of a leaf and pulling the edges together into an upward or "bowl" position.  However, when ready to pupate, a larva silks a leaf together upside down or in an "umbrella" position.

The pupa took 8 days to develop and the butterfly to emerge.
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Collected 2007

Todd Stout collected larva August 10, 2007 on Urtica dioica, 2.5 miles East of Mount Aire, Lambs Canyon which is on the east side of the Wasatch mountain, Salt Lake County, Utah - 7200 feet.

After a few days the pupa showed discoloration and was found to have been parasitized by a fly as a young instar prior to Todd collecting it.

Pupa
1.  pupa was formed August 16, 2007 after forming a new nest
2., 3. Pupa  August 16, 2007 ( taped to a different stem since the original was wilted)

Larva
1.  lateral - August 14, 2007


Nest was constructed by silking leaves together
1. Larva constructed a  nest during the night of August 13, 2007

Host
For photos of the host plant, click on
Stinging Nettle ==Urtica dioica

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