Vanessa gonerilla (New Zealand Red Admiral)
 
Vanessa gonerilla is a very nice butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The distribution is restricted to New Zealand. The first description was in 1775 by Fabricius. With a wingspan of 5.0 – 6.0 cm.  Vanessa gonerilla is a fairly common butterfly but its numbers have decreased in recent decades, possibly as a result of the introduction of Pteromalus puparum, a parasitoid wasp imported from Europe to control the Large White butterfly Pieris brassicae. Males commonly bask on the ground, waiting to fly up and intercept passing females. Both sexes visit a wide variety of nectar sources, and visit sap runs on trees. Vanessa gonerilla is a small member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The butterfly is black with white and blue spots and a broad red band. The forewings are black. In the pinion there is a chain of little whitish blue spots. Aside this there is a isolated white spot. A red band is crossing the wing. The underside is a copy of upside, but the ground is brown and marmorate. Futhermore there is a blue ring between the isolated white spot and the red band. The hind wings are dark brown and have no tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a broad red area which contain four black spots with a blue core. The underside is brown and marmorate. At the margin there is a chain of dark spots. The body is dark brown.