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Possibly the most widespread butterfly in the world, the adult Painted Lady is orange and brown with some white spots. Its underside is gray with white and red patches, with 4 or 5 small eyespots. The American Painted Lady is very similar, only with large eyespots.
Also known as the Thistle Butterfly due to the preference of feeding on Thistle plants, females lay pale green eggs singly on the tops of thistle leaves, usually twice a year. Caterpillars are purple to black in colour, and live in silk nests. They eat the host plant leaves.
You will find them almost everywhere, especially in open or disturbed areas, but only during early June to Fall, when they will migrate to warmer climates for the winter, using their large wings, with a span 5.1 - 7.3 cm.
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PAINTED LADY
Vanessa cardui
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