Yellow Admiral
Scientific name: Vanessa itea
Alternative name/s:
Australian Admiral
Australian Admiral
Click to enlarge image
Yellow Admiral Butterfly, Lepidoptera
Image: Bruce Hulbert
© Bruce Hulbert
© Bruce Hulbert
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Vanessa
- Species
- itea
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Super Family
- Papilionoidea
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 5 cm
Australian Admiral, Vanessa itea
Image: -
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Introduction
The Yellow Admiral is a striking butterfly with black and orange colourings and a large yellow patch on its wings.
Identification
Each forewing has a blue eyespot underneath.
Habitat
The Yellow Admiral lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Yellow Admiral butterfly has a habit of resting vertically on walls, fences and tree trunks and is commonly seen in urban gardens feeding on flowers.
Life history cycle
The female Yellow Admirals search for plants in the nettle family, including stinging nettles, on which to lay their eggs. When the brown, spiky larvae emerge, they feed on the nettles.
