Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

Wingspan: 2-2 1/4″. Above: orange with black markings; forewings have black tip with white spots; hindwings have small black or black-rimmed spots near border. Below: Forewing with large pink areas. Hindwing with row of small black eyespots near border.

Often called Thistle Butterfly because they prefer thistles as a nectaring source. Also called Cosmopolite, referring to its worldwide distribution. It is found everywhere except Antarctica.

Habitat: Open and bright fields, flowery meadows as well as marshes, dunes, and thorn scrubs.

Larval food plants: Thistles and daisies

Adult food: Thistles