It feeds on poisonous milkweeds, and the poisons are retained by the adults. The adult Queen is red-brown with fine black veins and wide black margins on the wings. White spots dot the long fore wing. The undersides are more brown with heavier veins. They are found in open places, prairies, and river valleys.
Adults often nectar at milkweeds.
Red Admiral Red Admiral caterpillars come in a variety of colors. They may be mottled olive-green or brown with a white patch on the back and a light band on the side. Feeds on willows, poplars and cottonwoods. Adult Red Admirals have black wings with a red stripe across the fore wings and along the base of the hind wings. There are white spots on the wing tip and a broken white line around the wings.