Message: "Vanessa butterflies . . ."

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[Facts] Vanessa butterflies . . .

by Chrisell (guest)

4/8/2004, 9:55 AM

The name Vanessa was given to a genus of butterflies - that's where that "meaning" (really a "meaning-in-reverse"!) comes from. I don't know the date of that nomenclature but it shouldn't be hard to find out if you're interested.

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- Chrisell (guest) +2

4/8/2004, 10:06 AM

Just adding . . . one page I found mentioned a butterfly that was identified as a species of the vanessa genus in 1819, so it's not a recent nomenclature.

- Melina (guest) +1

4/8/2004, 1:21 PM

I can't remember the scientists name, I want to say Samuel something or other, but some book of mine (baby name) says that he got the name randomly from a baby name book at the time, when he named the Painted Lady/Thistle butterfly. It's genus is Vanessa.

That is undoubtedly were the erroneous 'butterfly' meaning came from.

-Mina

- Chrisell (guest)

4/8/2004, 11:40 PM

Yep . . . that's what I just said!

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