10 Red Butterfly Species Found From India to Florida to Europe

One of the most well-known red butterflies, the red admiral features black wings with striking red bands and white subapical spots. Found across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America, this butterfly is a frequent visitor to gardens in spring and summer.

Its larvae feed on stinging nettle (Urtica) and false nettle (Boehmeria). The red admiral’s presence or absence is often used as an indicator of environmental change in butterfly conservation monitoring. Adult butterflies often feed on nectar and fallen fruit.

Native to India and Sri Lanka, the Crimson Rose sports black wings with red and white markings. It belongs to the swallowtail group and is toxic to predators due to chemicals accumulated during its larval stage.

These butterflies prefer warm climates and are active during daylight.

This Southeast Asian species displays vivid red-orange wings bordered in black and white. The underside of the wings reveals a lace-like pattern that gives the species its name. Red Lacewings are frequent visitors to flowers and are often found in tropical forests.

While not entirely red, the Atala butterfly has brilliant red spots on its abdomen and a blue-green iridescence on its wings. It’s native to Florida and the Caribbean and is often seen flitting among ornamental plants.

This butterfly was once thought extinct but has rebounded thanks to butterfly conservation efforts and the planting of coontie plants, its larval host.

Found throughout Central and South America, the Postman Butterfly features red bands on its black forewings and often visits nectar-rich flowers.

It uses bright colors as a warning signal to predators and plays a role in Müllerian mimicry, where multiple unpalatable species resemble each other.

Though its name suggests purple, this butterfly includes reddish markings on its hindwings. Found mainly in the eastern U.S., it prefers wooded areas and is often seen basking in the sun. It belongs to a group known for their bold coloration and mimicry of toxic species.

This European species has eyespots on its wings, but also shows red as the dominant wing color.

It emerges in early spring, feeds on nectar, and lays its eggs on nettle plants. Its vivid coloration helps it startle predators.

The Painted Lady is another global traveler with orange-red forewings and black and white spots. It can be found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Larvae feed on thistles, while adults drink nectar from a wide variety of flowers.

This small butterfly found in the southeastern U.S. has a striking red-orange band on its grayish wings. It typically flies low and is often found in wooded areas, feeding on nectar and decaying fruit.

This European butterfly features fiery orange-red wings with black and yellow markings and blue crescents along the edges. It lays its eggs on stinging nettle and is closely monitored by butterfly conservation programs.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.