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Description
American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on Zinnia flower

The American Painted Lady is a butterfly found throughout North America. It lives in flowery habitats, usually in mountains. The larvae feed on various Asteraceae, especially the cudweeds of genus Gnaphalium. All stages of the life cycle can be found throughout temperate North America as well as Madeira and the Canary Islands. Occasionally individuals can be found as far as south-west Europe.

The American Painted Lady (V. virginiensis) is most easily distinguishable by its two large hindwing eyespots on the ventral side.It also features a white dot within the subapical field of the forewings set in pink on the ventral side, and often as a smaller clean white dot in the orange of the dorsal side too. A less reliable indicator is the row of eyespots on the dorsal submarginal hindwing; it often has two larger outer spots with blue pupils. The black forewing tips have 4-5 white spots, usually the largest is whitish orange. The size of the wings is about 5 cm (2 in) across.

More info: [link]

Thanks to the talented and friendly Doug for his identification. He has beautiful nature images!

Featured by the talented Maveco in his "Features || Paradise IX" journal: [link] .

Featured by the talented Paulette in her "Summertime" journal: [link] .

Featured by the talented Anne in her journal "Silhouettes Contest Winners & Watcher Feature": [link] .

Description
American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on Zinnia flower

The American Painted Lady is a butterfly found throughout North America. It lives in flowery habitats, usually in mountains. The larvae feed on various Asteraceae, especially the cudweeds of genus Gnaphalium. All stages of the life cycle can be found throughout temperate North America as well as Madeira and the Canary Islands. Occasionally individuals can be found as far as south-west Europe.

The American Painted Lady (V. virginiensis) is most easily distinguishable by its two large hindwing eyespots on the ventral side.It also features a white dot within the subapical field of the forewings set in pink on the ventral side, and often as a smaller clean white dot in the orange of the dorsal side too. A less reliable indicator is the row of eyespots on the dorsal submarginal hindwing; it often has two larger outer spots with blue pupils. The black forewing tips have 4-5 white spots, usually the largest is whitish orange. The size of the wings is about 5 cm (2 in) across.

More info: [link]

Thanks to the talented and friendly Doug for his identification. He has beautiful nature images!

Featured by the talented Maveco in his "Features || Paradise IX" journal: [link] .

Featured by the talented Paulette in her "Summertime" journal: [link] .

Featured by the talented Anne in her journal "Silhouettes Contest Winners & Watcher Feature": [link] .