Summer has finally arrived in most parts of the world. Butterfly enthusiasts and gardeners everywhere always enjoy this long awaited season, for along with warm sunshine and fragrant flowers come hosts of exquisite "flying flowers." I invite you to join me as together we learn how to attract some fabulous fashion-conscious "Painted Ladies" to our gardens.
At first glance, one might easily mistake the identity of the beautiful orange, black, and white painted lady butterflies as Monarchs because of their color similarities. However, on close inspection, you will find that painted lady butterflies are very different from Monarchs. North America is blessed to have an abundant population of all three species of painted lady butterflies: the Painted Lady, the West Coast Lady, and the American Painted Lady.
The three painted lady butterflies featured in this article are members of a large subfamily called brushfoots {Nymphalinae}. The primary family to which this subfamily belongs is known as the brush-footed {Nymphalidae} family. Painted lady butterflies belong to the genus known as "Vanessa" -- a lovely genus name for these gorgeous butterflies, don't you agree?
All three painted lady butterfly species are quite similar in appearance when observed with their delicate wings open while basking on a flower petal, a leaf, or other favorite sunny spot. However, with their wings folded, their dissimilarities are more apparent.
A distinct shade of rose color is found on the underside of the forewing of all three species of painted lady butterflies. However, the American Painted Ladies have the brightest color of rose on their forewings. This brighter color distinction makes it easier to identify them correctly as American Painted Ladies. It seems only fitting that these lovely butterflies are named "painted ladies." Perhaps they were dubbed as "painted ladies" because of this lovely shade of rose on their gossamer wings!
The American Painted Ladies also differ from their other two cousins in that they have only two blue eyespots on the underside of their hindwings. Painted Ladies have four eyespots and West Coast Ladies boast five eyespots. So -- you'll have to be quick of eye to be able to spot and identify exactly which painted lady is nectaring from one of your flowers!
Painted Lady {Vanessa cardui}
Painted Lady butterflies are very fond of traveling and can be found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. They are considered one of the most widespread butterflies in the world. Given their extensive traveling and migratory habits, Painted Ladies are sometimes called by a very appropriate pseudonym -- "The Cosmopolitan." Painted Ladies are also known as "Thistle" butterflies, as their favorite host plant on which to lay their eggs is thistle. You can easily identify their eggs on thistle as they are either yellow or pale green in color.
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