The red admiral butterfly is up to 2¼ inches in size. It feeds on nettles and other members of the Urticaceae. Its range extends to northern Canada and it is holarctic, which means that it is native to both North America and Eurasia. Red admirals winter along the southern coast of the United States, out of range of frosts.

Red admirals seem to like resting on people's clothing, as seen in this photograph.