Yellow Admiral

Vanessa itea

The first Yellow Admiral butterfly I've seen this season. They usually come for the Buddleia flowers, but the Buddleia has flowered in vain. This one is sipping nectar from garlic chive flowers.

Yellow Admirals are native to New Zealand, but they are also found in Australia. Their preferred food plant for the caterpillars is the common nettle (not the vicious one), which people around here vigorously eradicate. I nurture plants in my garden, but they have not been used this summer.

Nice in large.