Yellow Admiral
Vanessa itea
When resting with wings closed, the mottled brown underside of the Yellow Admiral mimics a dead leaf, rendering it nearly invisible to predators.
- Scientific name
- Vanessa itea
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Nymphalidae › Vanessa
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Grasslands, forest clearings, urban gardens, agricultural edges, and waste grounds where stinging nettles are abundant.
- Diet
- Adults feed on floral nectar from various plants (especially Buddleja and Hebe) and sap; larvae feed exclusively on nettles (Urticaceae).
- Range
- Australia, New Zealand, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island
- Size
- Wingspan of 45 to 55 mm.
- Lifespan
- Adults live for 3 to 6 weeks; the complete egg-to-butterfly life cycle takes about 4 to 6 weeks in summer.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread eradication of stinging nettles (considered agricultural weeds) and chemical pesticide use in suburban and rural areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and safe to approach. Observe from a short distance to avoid startling them into flight. Avoid handling, as touching their wings can rub off the delicate scales essential for flight. Be cautious of the stinging nettles (Urtica species) they nest on, as the plants can cause painful skin irritation; wash affected skin with soap and water if stung by the host plant.
The yellow admiral or Australian admiral ( Vanessa itea ) is a butterfly native to Australia, New Zealand, Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Islands. The Māori name is kahukowhai , which means "yellow cloak". The yellow admiral is a member of the family Nymphalidae, the subfamily Nymphalinae as well as the tribe Nymphalini....
Photo: Tony Wills, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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