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Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, [2] [3] or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan. [4] [5]
- Size and Family
- Conservation Status
- Caterpillar Foodplants
- Distribution
Family: NymphalidsSize: MediumWing Span Range (male to female): 50-56mmGB Red List (2022): Least ConcernButterfly Conservation priority: LowEuropean status: Not assessedA wide range of foodplants may be used with thistles (Cirsium spp. andCarduus spp.) being preferred in Britain and Ireland. Mallows (Malva spp.), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Viper's-bugloss (Echium vulgare), and various cultivated plants also have been recorded as larval foodplants here.
Countries: England, Scotland, Ireland and WalesRecorded throughout Britain and Ireland, but numbers vary greatly from year to yearAbundance trend: 141% (1976-2019)Distribution trend: 18% (1975-2019)The Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is one of the most widespread butterfly species found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. It is particularly known for its striking patterned wings, featuring a beautiful mosaic of orange, black, and white.
- They Are the World's Most Widely Distributed Butterfly. Painted lady butterflies inhabit every continent except Australia and Antarctica. You can find painted ladies everywhere from meadows to vacant lots.
- They Are Also Called Thistle or Cosmopolitan Butterflies. The painted lady is called the thistle butterfly because thistle plants are its favorite nectar plant for food.
- They Have Unusual Migration Patterns. The painted lady is an irruptive migrant, meaning that it migrates independently of any seasonal or geographic patterns.
- They Can Fly Fast and Far. These medium-sized butterflies can cover a lot of ground, up to 100 miles per day during their migrations. A painted lady is capable of reaching a speed of nearly 30 miles per hour.
- Painted ladies are the most widely distributed butterfly in the world. One of the most common facts about painted lady butterflies is their widespread range.
- The painted lady loves to eat thistles. In some places the painted lady is called the thistle butterfly. This is because the caterpillars of the painted lady love to eat thistles, and are often found in high concentrations on thistle plants.
- Strange migrations. While painted ladies do migrate, it’s not actually clear why they migrate. Their migrations don’t follow seasonal or geographic patterns.
- Painted ladies are fast fliers. When they do migrate, they do it fast. They can easily cover 100 miles in a day, and a painted lady butterfly is capable of flying at 30 miles per hour.
Painted lady, (Vanessa cardui), species of butterfly in the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae (order Lepidoptera), that has broad wings (span about 4 to 5 cm [1.5 to 2 inches]), with beautifully elaborate patterns of reddish orange, pink, brown, white, and blue scales.
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What is a painted lady?
What is a painted lady butterfly?
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Why is a painted lady called a cosmopolitan butterfly?
A fairly large orange, black and white butterfly, the painted lady is a migrant to the UK from North Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe during the summer; sometimes it arrives here in enormous numbers. A frequent visitor to gardens, it will feed on Buddleia and other flowers.
