Butterflies of
temperate Asia
Indian Red Admiral
Vanessa
indica
HERBST, 1794
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe -
Vanessa indica, Baisha, Yunnan,
China
© Jean-Marc Gayman
Introduction
There are 11 different
species of Red Admiral in the genus Vanessa, plus
10 Painted Lady species.
The Red Admirals ( the name is believed to be a
corruption of "Red Admirable" ) all share the same basic pattern, having a
blackish-brown ground colour with a bright orange-red diagonal band on the
forewings, a series of white apical spots, and a red submarginal band on the
hindwings.
The undersides of all species are cryptically
patterned in a manner which affords them excellent camouflage when at rest on
tree trunks or on the ground.
Vanessa indica is
distributed from India and Sri Lanka to China and Taiwan.
Habitats
This is a
mid-elevation species found mostly in temperate hill country at altitudes
between about 600-2400m. It can be found in gardens, woodlands and sheltered
river valleys.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants in include Urtica,
Girardinia and
Boehmeria.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
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