BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS

Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui

Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Size: Wingspan 2–2 1⁄2"

Habitat: Open habitats, gardens, fields, alpine meadows

Range: Throughout the contiguous United States

The Painted Lady is a medium-size, wide-ranging, common butterfly that can be found around the world, so it is sometimes called the Cosmopolitan. It has strong but erratic flight and is capable of long migrations. The upperside wings are pale orange-brown with extensive black markings. A black apical region on the forewing contains several white spots, and small blue spots may be visible at the inner base of the hindwing. The underside forewing is patterned as above, but the hindwing is mottled in earth tones with a row of submarginal eyespots. The body is speckled light and dark brown above, is whitish below, and has thin, club-tipped antennae ending in pale dots. The caterpillar is blackish with pale yellow stripes, and is covered in fine hairs and bristles. The caterpillar eats a wide variety of plants, including thistles, nettles, burdock, hollyhock, and mallow, enabling it to thrive in most areas. Adults feed on flower nectar.