Lathyrus Odoratus

By lathyrus

Blood on the wings

Mrs L is on a 200 mile round trip to visit the dentist, such is the state of NHS dental care in this country. Meanwhile the spaniel and I are left to amuse ourselves looking for fungi but, after yesterday's excitement, I couldn't find anything of great interest. Instead its a Red Admiral for my blip. Apparently their numbers are booming due to warmer winters. I am reminded that in Russia the Red Admiral was greatly feared because a huge influx of Red Admirals from the Black Sea coast to St Petersburg  was believed to foreshadow the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881. Markings on the underwings were said to resemble the numerals 18 and 81 while the red stripes represented dripping blood. Is there a Red Admiral boom in Russia this year?

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