Chilean Lady
Common NameChilean Lady
Scientific NameVanessa carye
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatGardens, parks, open fields, grasslands, forest edges, agricultural areas
Geographic RangeSouth America (Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia), occasionally vagrants to Central America
Host PlantsMalvaceae (e.g., mallows), Asteraceae (e.g., thistles, sunflowers), Boraginaceae, Urticaceae
Flight PeriodYear-round in warmer regions, multiple broods
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are spiny and feed on leaves, eventually forming a chrysalis from which the adult butterfly emerges.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive orange and black pattern, the row of four prominent black spots (often with blue pupils) on the hindwing upperside, and the white spots within the black apical patch of the forewings.
Description
This butterfly displays vibrant orange wings with extensive black markings, including a broad black band on the forewing tips with white spots, and a row of black spots, some with blue centers, on the hindwings.
