Vanessas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group including various species of brush-footed butterflies; plural referencing butterflies in a particular genus; several distinct butterflies commonly called admirals or painted ladies
2. Multiple butterflies belonging to a notable genus characterized by colorful wing patterns; a collection of species often known as admirals, painted ladies, or relatives; the plural form referring to these butterflies
3. The collective term for more than one butterfly from a genus famed for vivid coloration; groups of species informally named admirals or painted ladies; plural entities within this type of butterfly

Etymology: The plural "vanessas" is the plural of "vanessa", which in turn comes from the genus name. That genus, Vanessa, was created by the naturalist Johann Christian Fabricius, who gave the name to a group of butterflies with bold, colorful wing patterns. The name itself is a classical-style Latinized coinage, and the first name Vanessa was a literary invention, so the butterfly genus took its name from a personal name rather than from any ancient word for an insect. Because the genus is the source, the plural form here refers to the butterflies belonging to it. Several familiar species sit in this group, including the red admiral and the painted lady, which is why those names turn up when people talk about these insects.

Synonyms: butterflies