Morwell National Park Online
Park
History
Park
Management
Friends of
the Park
Plants and
Animals
Plant
Identification
Walking
Tracks
Online
Help
Contact
      Item Details  

Scientific Name : Vanessa itea
Common Name : Australian admiral
Description : Medium sized butterfly, wingspan over 60mm. Upper wings brightly coloured. Hind wings are dull redm with a black border and a row of blue spots near the edge. Fore wings are predominately black, but have a large central patch of yellow, with dull red on the inner side and white spots toward the tip. The underwing is quite different, with the hind wing dark brown with irregular markings, so that the butterfly is well-camouflaged when its wings are closed. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles Urtica incisa.
Habitat : Usually in wetter forested areas, wherever its food plant the stinging nettles grow.
Distribution : East coast from Northern Queensland to Tasmania, and coastal South and West Australia. Common in the park in forested areas.
Flying Season : September October November December January February March April
Family : Nymphalidae
 
Available Images

View At 50% | View At 100%

Australian admiral butterfly.
View At 50% | View At 100%

Caterpillar of Australian Admiral on a Stinging Nettle (Urtica incisa) by the Weir Track
View At 50% | View At 100%

Caterpillar of Australian Admiral on a Stinging Nettle (Urtica incisa) by the Weir Track
View At 50% | View At 100%

Chrysalis of Australian Admiral from stinging nettles by the Weir Track
View At 50% | View At 100%

Chrysalis of Australian Admiral on a stinging nettle by the Jumbuk Road Track
View At 50% | View At 100%

Australian Admiral Butterfly
View At 50% | View At 100%

Australian Admiral Butterfly


Caterpillar of Australian Admiral on a Stinging Nettle (Urtica incisa) by the Weir Track
September 19th 2006




 
Back To Top