Naval Commander - _TNY_1862
The red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) has a somewhat curious name. What about it relates to a naval commander? Does the two red bands on the dorsal side of the wings have anything to do with it?
Well, it turns out there is a different explanation. The beauty of it led to the previous name, "the red admirable" which over time morphed into "red admiral" instead.
This species is migratory and come up to Sweden from the Mediterranean area each year and part of the next generation migrate back while others try to hibernate, something which typically fails in Swedish winter temperatures.
I found this specimen (and several more) in the Paradiset Nature Reserve just to the south of Stockholm.
Naval Commander - _TNY_1862
The red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) has a somewhat curious name. What about it relates to a naval commander? Does the two red bands on the dorsal side of the wings have anything to do with it?
Well, it turns out there is a different explanation. The beauty of it led to the previous name, "the red admirable" which over time morphed into "red admiral" instead.
This species is migratory and come up to Sweden from the Mediterranean area each year and part of the next generation migrate back while others try to hibernate, something which typically fails in Swedish winter temperatures.
I found this specimen (and several more) in the Paradiset Nature Reserve just to the south of Stockholm.