Yellow admiral

Taxobox
name = Yellow admiral


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Nymphalidae
subfamilia = Nymphalinae
genus = "Vanessa"
species = "V. itea"
binomial = "Vanessa itea"
binomial_authority = (Fabricius, 1775)
synonyms = "Bassaris itea"

"This article is about the butterfly. For the historical Royal Navy rank see Admiral (United Kingdom) or Post-Captain."

The Yellow or Australian Admiral, "Vanessa itea", is a butterfly endemic to Australia, New Zealand, and Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. The Māori name is "kahukowhai" which means "yellow cloak". The yellow admiral is a member of the family Nymphalidae, the sub-family Nymphalinae as well as the tribe Nymphalini.

It prefers open country, wastelands and gardens where the nettles, "Urtica incisa" and "Urtica urens" are present. These are the main food plants for the larvae.

The Yellow Admiral has a wingspan of 48 to 55 mm and is a strong flier, and is believed to survive wind-blown travel from Australia to New Zealand.

Yellow Admirals occur most frequently during summer and may live for several months. The adults feed on nectar from any available flowers.

Yellow Admirals are relatively common throughout their range wherever their food plants occur.

[cite web |url=http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_129.htm |title="1. Australian admiral"|accessdate=2008-09-20 |work=Australian Insect Common Names |publisher=Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia) |date=September 19, 2004 ]

References