Scientific vs. common names

[MS LYNN L MONROE]

I like the scientific names, too.  To me butterfly names are like Chinese
names, with the surname (the genus) first, the given name (the species)
second.  All those butterflies that share the same "surname," the genus,
are pretty closely related and easier to learn as a group.  Vanessa cardui
and Vanessa atalanta show this close relationship much better than Painted
Lady (or Cosmopolitan) and Red Admiral

This relationship is often international.  In Australia we found a
butterfly called the Meadow Argus which looked pretty familiar.  When we
saw the scientific name, Junonia villida, we knew why.  It looked a lot
like our Buckeye, Junonia coenia.  Australia also has a couple of Vanessas
and even an Everes,the genus of our Eastern Tailed Blue and Western Tailed
Blue.  In Australia the common name is Tailed Cupid, but in my mind's eye I
can almost predict what this little butterfly will look like.

Lynn Monroe