Spidery. Araschnia levana, Map Butterfly, Diemer Vijfhoek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hadn't been out to the nature reserve, the Diemer Vijfhoek, for a while. I'd forgotten what a wonderful place it is (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/52273686037/in/photoli...). Great flutterings of many orange Maps there today, all feeding on white Queen Anne's Lace. This orange and black is their Spring garb; later in Summer they'll turn brown and white. The Latin name refers back to the ancient Greek word for a spider's web whose form you might see on the underside of Map's wings (see top right). 'Levana' is said to go back on the name of a Roman goddess of childbirth; the midwife apparently lifted the newborn child up from its mother. So, too, our Butterflies soar upwards. Well...
Spidery. Araschnia levana, Map Butterfly, Diemer Vijfhoek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hadn't been out to the nature reserve, the Diemer Vijfhoek, for a while. I'd forgotten what a wonderful place it is (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/52273686037/in/photoli...). Great flutterings of many orange Maps there today, all feeding on white Queen Anne's Lace. This orange and black is their Spring garb; later in Summer they'll turn brown and white. The Latin name refers back to the ancient Greek word for a spider's web whose form you might see on the underside of Map's wings (see top right). 'Levana' is said to go back on the name of a Roman goddess of childbirth; the midwife apparently lifted the newborn child up from its mother. So, too, our Butterflies soar upwards. Well...