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Project Noah Nature School
Vanessa itea
Australian Admiral butterfly feasts on Juniper blossoms in my garden. The upper side of the forewings are dark brown to black toward the outer edges, with three small white patches and a wide, bright yellow bar, and dull red nearer the body. The rear wings are dull red with a black border, and a row of black circles with light blue centres near the edge. The underwings are very different - the rear wing is various shades of brown with cryptic, irregular markings; the underside of the forewing has a blue 'eye' on a black background that is highlighted by a yellow area above and below.
Yellow Admirals are relatively common throughout their range wherever their food plants occur. They prefer open country, wastelands and gardens where stinging nettles, Urtica incisa and Urtica urens are present. It is found at up to 1000m above sea level. It is a strong, fast flier, and is thought to survive wind-blown travel from Australia to New Zealand, across the Tasman Sea.
The underside of wings are heavily patterned and very different from top view.
This little butterfly fluttered up to me and danced around my head before fluttering its wings against my cheek. After its little investigation it proceed to drink from these juniper flowers.:)
Spotted on Aug 8, 2011
Submitted on Aug 8, 2011
