Vanessa vulcania (Canary Red Admiral, Kanarischer Admiral)

Vanessa vulcania, also called Canary Red Admiral or Kanarischer Admiral is a very nice butterfly from Palaearctic ecozone (Europe). The first description was in 1819 by Godart. With a wingspan of 5.0– 6.0 cm the Canary Red Admiral is a small member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The butterfly is black and has red areas and white spots. The Red Admiral is a migrant butterfly.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Norbert Ulmann (noulma@hotmail.com)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

These are nice photos of Vanessa vulcania (Canary Red Admiral, Kanarischer Admiral). Vanessa vulcania is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Palaearctic (Europe).

Description

The forewings are black. The margin is ridged. In the pinion there are some little white spots. There is a broad, red area on the wing, which contains three black spots.
The underside is a copy from upside, but the ground is dark brown and marmorate. Furthermore there is a bluish spot between the biggest white spot and the red area.

The hind wings are black or dark brown. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a red area which contain some little black spots. At the beginning of the red area there are two little blue spots.
The underside is dark brown and marmorate. The margin is grey.

The body is dark brown or black.

Sex differences: None

Macro photos

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Vanessa vulcania (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Vanessa vulcania (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Vanessa vulcania (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Vanessa vulcania (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Vanessa vulcania (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Vanessa vulcania (underside)

Here you can see some macro photos of Vanessa vulcania.

Distribution

The Canary Red Admiral (Vanessa vulcania) is a butterfly of the Palaearctic ecozone (Europe). The distribution is restricted to Madeira and the Canary Islands.

: This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Larval food

Stinging-nettle

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1819 by Godart. There are no subspecies.

Caterpillar is black with yellow spots and thorny.
The Canary Red Admiral is very similar to the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). The best attribute for easy differentiation of these similar species is the broad red area with black spots of the Canary Red Admiral.

Protection provisions / Red List

CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):

-no entry- (as at 14.06.2006)
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora

-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005)
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)