A medium orange butterfly with black patches and white spots near the wingtips, resting on a thistle or aster, is very likely a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). It may be the most widespread butterfly in the world.
What it looks like
The wingspan is about 5 to 6cm. The upper wings are a warm salmon orange marbled with black, and the front wingtips are black with a scatter of white spots. The underside is a marbled pattern of brown, gray, and white with a row of small eyespots, perfect for hiding on bark or dry ground. Freshly hatched adults look bright and crisp, while worn travelers can look faded.
When and where
- Season: Spring through fall
- Habitat: Gardens, meadows, roadsides, open fields
- Best time: Warm sunny days on flowers
A butterfly that migrates
Painted Ladies are famous long-distance flyers. Each year they move north in waves as the weather warms, and in big years millions may pass through a region at once. No single butterfly makes the whole round trip, so it takes several generations to complete the journey. The caterpillars feed on thistles and mallows inside a small tent of silk and folded leaf.
Spot one this weekend
The Painted Lady is Common. Check a sunny flower bed or a patch of thistles for an orange butterfly with white-spotted black wingtips. Watch it long enough and you may see it chase off other butterflies from its favorite bloom.