

Camera model Olympus SP-320
Date/time 07.10.2006/12:47:28
Exposure time 1/250 s
F-number f/7.1
ISO 64
Focal length 8 mm
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
--RikThough perhaps first and most widely known as the Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta is actually a lady and has nothing to do with the admirals of the genus Limenitis. As E. B. Ford pointed out, the name Red Admirable goes back over 250 years. Nabokov strongly preferred it, considering "Red Admiral" an expression of "vulgar parlance." The species was conflated with the true admirals because they both have epaulette-like bands across black wings. Another traditional name, the Alderman, refers to ancient British ceremonial garb. An even older English title is Nettle Fly: Sir Winston Churchill struggled with his estate gardeners to keep nettles for this butterfly, which is famous for landing on people in their gardens, sometimes preferring the same person day after day.