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Araschnia levana (NL: Landkaartje / EN: Map / DE: Landkärtchen, Landkärtchenfalter / FR: Carte géographique) is a small butterfly of the Nymphalidae family (forewing about 17-21 mm). It is common throughout the lowlands of central and eastern Europe, and is expanding its range in western Europe. When you look at the underside of the wings it is not hard to imagine how this butterfly got it's name. The eggs are laid in long strings, one on top of the other, on the underside of stinging nettles, the larval foodplant. It is thought that these strings of eggs mimic the flowers of the nettles, thereby evading predators. The larvae feed gregariously and hibernate as pupae. The Map is unusual in that its two annual broods look very different. The summer brood are blackish with white markings, looking like a miniature version of the White Admiral and lacking most of the orange of the spring brood (this image). This seasonal dimorphism is thought to be related to the diapause (= the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions) which the hibernating pupae of the spring brood undergo.
Image: Ekeren (BE) – 26/05/2012
© Johan Dierckx
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All species are photographed in their natural habitat, without cutting or capturing them, and with maximal respect and the least possible disturbance to the environment.
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Canon EOS 400D
1/200 second
F/11.0
ISO 200
150 mm
animalia
arthropoda
insecta
lepidoptera
nymphalidae
araschnia
be