
Painted Lady Butterfly


Vanessa cardui
Painted Ladies are very adaptable and can be found throughout the continental United States, as well as every continent except Antartica.
Butterfly Size: 2 – 2 7/8 inches
Habitats: Almost everywhere, especially in open or disturbed areas including gardens, old fields, dunes
Plants for the Painted Lady Butterfly
HOST PLANTS
- thistles (Asteraceae)
- hollyhock
- mallow (Malvaceae)
- various legumes (Fabaceae).
FOOD PLANTS
The Painted Lady prefers nectar from composites 3-6 feet high
- thistles
- aster
- cosmos
- blazing star
- ironweed
- joe-pye weed
Flowers from other families that are visited include red clover, buttonbush, privet, and milkweeds.
Additional Painted Lady Photos

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