Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Painted Lady Butterfly
Vanessa cardui
33.488, -81.9749
Field Notes
Description:
Upperside is orange-brown with darker wing bases; forewing with black apex patch and white bar on leading edge; hindwing submarginal row of 5 small black spots sometimes has blue scales. Underside has a black, brown, and gray pattern with 4 small submarginal eyespots. Wing Span: 2 - 2 7/8 inches (5.1 - 7.3 cm).
Habitat:
On all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Almost everywhere, especially in open or disturbed areas including gardens, old fields, dunes.
Notes:
Caterpillar Hosts: More than 100 host plants have been noted; favorites include thistles (Asteraceae), hollyhock and mallow (Malvaceae), and various legumes (Fabaceae). The Painted Lady butterfly prefers nectar from composites 3-6 feet high, especially thistles; also aster, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, and joe-pye weed. Flowers from other families that are visited include red clover, buttonbush, privet, and milkweeds. This one is nectaring on butterfly pea.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment
Sign in to comment