Yellow Admiral

Vanessa itea, native to New Zealand and Australia.

Best seen large

There were a couple of yellow admirals on the leek flowers today. This one has its wings folded, showing the underside. Unfortunately the lower wing has had the surface damaged, removing much of the rich brown and black pattern, but I like the detail in the upper wing.

The proboscis, which is sunk deep into a flower, is amazingly long. It would take an awful lot of sucking to get the nectar to the mouth.