Admirals (Nymphalidae)

Most of the more colorful and larger butterflies in Europe belong to this family. In many cases there is a big difference between the underside and the upperside of the wings. The underside is dark and often cryptically colored, if colored at all. This is to make the butterfly hard to spot when it is in hibernation. When landed on flowers the wings are continously opened and closed thus deterring hunters like birds and dragon-flies. Nowadays Satyrs are placed in this family as well, making it one of the biggest butterfly families. Presently almost 7,000 species are known.