Vanessa cardui
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Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan butterfly.
0 Belle dame Echinacea purpurea Havré
Butterfly August 2008 3
Wing scales.
Dorsal side
American lady
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The American painted lady or American lady is a butterfly found throughout North America.
Vanessa cardui
…the Australian painted lady (V. kershawi, sometimes considered a subspecies), ranges over half the continent. Other closely related species are the American painted lady (V. virginiensis) and the West Coast lady (V. annabella). Larvae feed on Asteraceae species, including Cirsium, Carduus, Centaurea, Arctium, Onopordum…
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Upper Wings 1609px
Underside of wings
Some individuals lack the additional white subapical forewing spot
Ventral side