Vanessa cardui
Size:
Wingspan is
2 - 2 1/4 inches.
Similar Species:
American Lady
Habitat:
Fields, meadows, roadsides and gardens.
Range/Abundance:
Uncommon in the
entire region. This migratory butterfly can be common some years and others
not so common, if not absent entirely.
Flight Period:
Adults fly from mid April until November in two broods.
Larval Host Plants:
Thistles Cirsium spp., mallows Malvaceae including Common Mallow
Malva neglecta and Hollyhock Althaea spp.
Comments:
Painted Lady is perhaps the most widespread butterfly in the world.
On the underside look for the four tiny eye-spots on the hindwing, the
American Lady
has two larger eye-spots.
Some years only a handful of this species is found in the
entire region. In 2001 the reports were widespread and record numbers
of Painted Ladies were found.
The top photo was taken in Orange Co., NC on May 25, 2001.
The center photo was taken in Orange Co., NC on October 03, 2003. The
bottom photo was taken in Orange Co., NC on August 12, 2001.
