Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Occurrence in NC varies dramatically from year to year. Some years they may be virtually absent, while in other years they can be almost common. Their originate each year as immigrants from the southwest and have been seen as early as March and as late as December.

Note that on the top surface of the forewing, Painted Ladies lack a white spot in the outer orange area, and note the pattern of the basal black spots form a closed half-circle. On the underside of the hindwing, note 4-5 small eyespots. (American Ladies have 2 large eyespots below, and their dorsal surfaces usually have a white spot and a different black spot pattern (broken half-circle).)


Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Durham Co., NC
2 Nov 2013

Nectaring on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in my yard.


Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
25 Sep 2012

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Duke Forest Durham Division, Orange Co., NC
11 Aug 2019

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Mt. Mitchell State Park, Yancey Co., NC
13 Sep 2008
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Durham Co., NC
13 Oct 2014

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Durham Co, NC
17 July 04

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Portsmouth Island, Carteret Co., NC
10 Apr 2005

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC
9 Oct 2004
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC
20 Aug 2005

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Rodanthe, Dare Co., NC
22 Oct 2017

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Bogue Banks, Carteret Co., NC
27 Oct 2017
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Bogue Banks, Carteret Co., NC
27 Oct 2017

/tr>
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC
22 Oct 2017
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Alamance Co., NC
17 Aug 2023

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Orange Co., NC
6 Aug 2023
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Moses Cone, Watauga Co., NC
6 Oct 2023

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Lambs Canyon, Salt Lake Co., UT
16 June 2005

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Patagonia, Santa Cruz Co., AZ
26 July 2017

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
8 May 2014
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 May 2014

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
19 May 2014

Puddling on horse dung


Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Rock Creek, El Paso Co., CO
9 July 2016

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Nectaring on Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
19 May 2014
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Nectaring on Nettle-leaf Giant Hyssop (Agastache urticifolia)
Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
26 July 2014

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Nectaring on knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
Near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
2 Sep 2014
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Nectaring on blazing star (Liatris sp.)
Kankakee Sands, Newton Co, IN
30 July 2015

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Rock Cree, Park Co., WY near border of MT
23 July 2023

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Park Co., WY
22 July 2023
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Park Co., WY
22 July 2023

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) egg Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) egg Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) egg on a thistle leaf
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
14 May 2015



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Created on ... July 24, 2004 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com