Painted Lady[ Cynthia group ]

In only Painted Lady and Tortoise shell butterflies..there is brownish fur beside abdomen of butterfly in Dorsal view... So its definitely Painted lady..!!

एम्मा, अब मान भी जाओ... :)

Emma - This is most definitely NOT a monarch. Monarchs are larger, brighter orange, with black lines and not spots. Please check out the Wikipedia link for monarchs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterfly) along with this picture of a Painted Lady (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Painted_Lady_Vanessa_cardui_Top_closer.jpg). You'll see they are actually quite different. Hope this information has been helpful!

Tortoiseshells do not live in the U.S. Emma - milkweed flowers are a great nectar source for all kinds of adult butterflies. When it comes to caterpillars, it's important to note the plant you've found them on, as each species has very specific host plants it can eat (and yes, monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed). Butterflies can take nectar from any source, and milkweed is one of these sources.

Emma...Its not Monarch any way...!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:American_Lady_Vanessa_virginiensis_Upper_Wings_1609px.jpg http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/372370/530wm/Z3551445-Large_tortoiseshell_butterfly-SPL.jpg

I am agree with Painted lady or Large tortoiseshell.

Not a Monarch. Either a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) or West Coast Lady (Vanessa anabella) - not really possible to tell from the picture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Lady