Painted Lady
Common NamePainted Lady
Scientific NameVanessa cardui
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)55
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black, white, brown
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, deserts, gardens, open fields, virtually all open habitats
Geographic RangeCosmopolitan (found on every continent except Antarctica and South America)
Host Plantsthistles, mallow, nettles, borage
Flight PeriodYear-round in warm regions; spring to autumn in temperate zones (migratory)
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are spiny, dark, and feed on leaves, often creating silk tents. Pupae are chrysalides, often with metallic spots, from which the adult butterfly emerges.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its orange and black upperwing pattern with white forewing spots. The hindwing underside has 4-5 small, distinct eyespots, which helps differentiate it from similar species like the American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) which has two large eyespots.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with orange and brown upperwings, featuring black spots and white subapical spots on the forewings. The underside is mottled brown and white with small eyespots on the hindwings.
