Final answer:
Nettles serve two essential roles in the life cycle of a Red Admiral butterfly: they provide nectar for adult butterflies and are a preferred site for laying eggs and a food source for emerging caterpillars. Maintaining healthy nettle populations is thus vital for the survival of this butterfly species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nettle plants are important in the life cycle of the Red Admiral butterfly in two significant ways: as a food source and a breeding ground. Like many butterfly species, adult Red Admirals feed on the nectar of various plant species, obtaining the necessary energy for flight and reproduction. Nettles, in particular, are a favored source of nectar.
Secondly, nettles are crucial for the butterfly's breeding. Female Red Admirals lay eggs on the underside of nettle leaves, which then provide a food source for the emerging caterpillars. Over several weeks, these caterpillars feed on the nettle plants before pupating into chrysalises. Eventually, they emerge as new adult butterflies ready to repeat the life cycle. Any threat to nettle plants, therefore, may lead to a decline in this butterfly species.
Learn more about Butterfly life cycle