painted lady

painted lady, (Vanessa cardui), species of migratory brush-footed butterfly 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. The insect is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution, found on every continent except South America and Antarctica.

Migration

Vast numbers of painted ladies travel northward in spring across the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe, migrating thousands of kilometers. A few of the next generation travel southward during late summer, but most perish in the northern winter. Painted lady larvae in Africa and Europe eat thistles and stinging nettles, while those in North Americas feed on plants that are members of the family Asteraceae.

Other painted ladies

In North America, V. cardui and V. virginiensis are known as the painted lady and American painted lady, respectively. The West Coast lady (V. annabella) is native to much of western North America. The Australian painted lady (V. kershawi) is found in Australia. 

Britannica Quiz

Animal Group Names

The related red admiral (V. atalanta) is another migratory species found throughout the Northern Hemisphere.