Vanessa cardui

In Britain, one or more generations may be produced during a single year, depending on the climate (2). The female lays eggs singly on the upperside of leaves of the foodplants (3). The eggs hatch after around a week, and the caterpillars create a tent-like shelter of leaves spun together with silk, within which feeding takes place. They pupate inside these shelters, and the adults emerge after around two weeks (3). In 1997 it was first shown that adults are able to overwinter in Britain, although it is not known if adults are capable of breeding after overwintering (2). There is currently no evidence to suggest that this species migrates south at the end of the season (2). In some years, the migration of this species involves enormous numbers of individuals; in 1996, many millions of painted ladies arrived in Britain, and the event made the headlines at the time (2).

Vanessa cardui, the painted lady, is resident to southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, south to Venezuela, the Bahamas and Antilles. It is the most widely distributed butterfly in the world, occurring also in Eruasia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere (Scott 1986). Hightly migratory, it migrates throughout the North America. Habitats are everywhere, mostly in open or disturbed areas. Host plants are mostly herbaceous, but rarely shrubs or trees, and include species from many families, especially preferring Compositae, and sometimes is a pest on Iowa soybeans (Leguminosae). Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as adults, but only in mild winters or in the south. There are multiple flights all year in south Texas, Florida and California, with migrations many thousands of kilometers between spring to fall (Scott 1986).

The beautiful painted lady butterfly is a long-distance migratory species, and is easily recognised by its orange and black patterns and white spots (1). The caterpillar reaches 2.8 cm in length, has a black body with white dots, yellowish-black spines, and a yellow line along each side (3).

"Vanessa cardui, also called the Painted Lady or the Cosmopolitan(in North America), is a popular colourful butterfly species that shows a characteristic strange screw shaped flight pattern."

There are two other similar Vanessa; the first, V. virginiensis, occurs only very rarely as a migrant in Alberta, and the Painted Lady can immediately be distinguished from virginiensis by the row of three to four smaller eyespots on the hindwing underside; virginiensis has only two, much larger spots. Compared to the West Coast Lady (V. annabella), cardui has a large white spot two-thirds up the leading edge of the forewing, which is orange in annabella; cardui is also larger.
Royal Alberta Museum page
 There are no named subspecies.

Size: 54-58 mm. Unmistakable.The forewings are brown. On the wing leading edge there is a big white spot. The wing is black and there is a chain of little white spots. There is a chain of big, black spots on the wing. The underside is a copy from upside, but there are some differences. The wing is grey. Nearby the body there is a pink area. The hind wings are brown. At the margin there are three chains of black spots. In the middle of the wing there is a black spot. The underside is brown and marmorate. At the margin there is a chain of little eyes. The body is brown. Sex differences: None. The caterpillar reaches 2.8 cm in length, has a black body with white dots, yellowish-black spines, and a yellow line along each side .

This is one of the most common butterfly species in the world. The only places it doesn't live are on Antarctica and some remote islands. It even migrates to Hawaii and Iceland!

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); ethiopian (Native ); neotropical (Native ); australian (Native ); oceanic islands (Native )

This butterfly is more widespread tha nany other species in the world; although it does not tolerate hard winter forsts, migrants have been found on every continent save Antarctica; recorded as far north as northern Greenland (Scott 1986).

The Painted Lady is found everywhere in the world except South America, the Arctic, and Australia.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); ethiopian (Native ); neotropical (Native ); australian (Native ); oceanic islands (Native )

102 records. Latest in 2007 (St Katherine)

Widespread

Widespread (Holarctic). everywhere in the world except South America, the Arctic, and Australia.

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Breeding

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Holarctic: in North America, Panama north to the southern United States. Migrates north to sub-Arctic North America, but dies off in winter. Established virtually worldwide; the most widespread species of butterfly in the world.

Every year this species migrates northwards from 'source populations' in North Africa, central Asia and the Middle East to Europe, including Britain and Ireland, where it breeds. Numbers peak in late summer. This species has a worldwide distribution, but is absent from South America. Some authorities claim that the race found in Australia is a separate species (2).

"In both sexes, uppersides are reddish yellow with dark brown markings, apical area of forewing with a short post-discal white bar from costa and a pre-apical series of white spots. Hind wing with a series of post-discal dark brown spots and a sub-terminal series of spots, the apices of the veins bearing a dark spot. Fringe of wings white. Under-side: Forewing: as on upperside but paler, the terminal border with white lines. Hind wing: much mottled with dark brown and yellowish white, a post-discal series of black-ringed ocelli with bluish centres, the ocellus in interspace 2 the largest, the terminal border with a yellowish line. Markings very variable."

Eggs are pale green, placed one by one on the uppersides of leaves. The caterpillars vary in color, they are grayish-brown or darker, and darker at each end than in the middle. They have a yellow stripe down the back and along each side, and many spines on their back and sides. The pupa can also be different colors, metallic-greenish, or bluish-white, or brown. Adult Painted Lady Butterflies have speckled wings with brown, black, red and white markings. The upper side has more red and sometimes pink or orange, the underside is more brown and black. The forewings have a white bar, and the hindwing has a row of 5 tiny black dots. When the wings are folded, they appear camouflaged.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

The Painted Lady has a pointed forewing which bears a distinct white bar. The hindwing has a submarginal row of 5 tiny black dots. The upperside of the freshly emerged butterfly is orange with rose-like overtones. The underside is a mottled gray, brown, and black.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Painted Lady Butterflies are found almost anywhere, but they prefer brightly lit and open environments like clover fields, flowery meadows and hilly country.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; taiga ; desert or dune ; chaparral ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog

Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural

A migrant that can be found in almost any habitat in years that it is common.

The Painted Lady is found almost anywhere, but they tend to inhabit brightly lighted and open environments. They prefer clover fields, flowery meadows and hilly country. Marshes, dunes, and thorn scrubs also attract the Painted Lady.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; taiga ; desert or dune ; chaparral ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains

Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog

Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural

Occurs in any area with flowers.

Comments: A migratory species that potentially might find and use any patch of foodplants in good years. Normal habitats when not migrating include deserts, any kind of dry open fields with thistles, pastures etc. Overwintering areas seem to be frost-free portions of southwestern deserts and Mexico. Habitats checked off do not include casual use areas like downtown cities and alpine tundra.

Found in a huge variety of habitats. Adults seem to prefer open areas with good populations of thistles (Cirsium and Carduus spp.), which are used as foodplants for the caterpillars, although a very wide range of foodplants may be used, including common nettle (Urtica dioica) and viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) (2).

"A long-distance migratory species, the Painted Lady shows a wide range, but is resident only in warmer areas and migrates in spring and sometimes again in autumn. Autumn migrations occur at high altitudes and are seldom witnessed."

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

"Larvae of the Painted Lady feed on more than 300 plant species including members of the family Asteraceae such as Cirsium sp, Carduus sp,Centaurea sp, Arctium sp, Helianthus sp. and Artemisia sp. Adults feed on flower nectar and sometimes aphid honeydew."

The caterpillars of this species prefer the leaves of plants in the daisy family (Compositaceae) especially thistles, but can eat many different kinds of plants. Adult painted ladies sip nectar from flowers, and sometimes take "honeydew" from aphids (See Aphids).

Many composites (Asteraceae) have been recorded as larval hosts, but thistles (Cirsium spp.) seem to be favoured in western Canada (Guppy & Shepard 2001).

The Painted lady consumes more than 100 different plants, some include thistles, Burdock, and Groundsel. The Larval foodplants are thistles and members of the families Asteraceae and Malvaceae.

Primary Diet: herbivore

Host-plants: a wide range, especially Malva.

Comments: Larvae most often on thistles but many others reported.

Adult painted ladies' main defenses are flight and camouflage. The caterpillars hide in small silk nests on top of leaves, and may have chemical defenses, but this is uncertain.

Known Predators:

• wasps (Hymenoptera)
• spiders (Araneae)
• ants (Formicidae)
• birds (Aves)

Animal / parasitoid / endoparasitoid
larva of Phryxe vulgaris is endoparasitoid of larva of Cynthia cardui

Adult painted ladies' main defenses are flight and camouflage. The caterpillars hide in small silk nests on top of leaves, and may have chemical defenses, but this is uncertain.

Known Predators:

• wasps (Hymenoptera)
• spiders (Araneae)
• ants (Formicidae)
• birds (Aves)

Vanessa cardui is prey of:
Aves
Araneae
Hymenoptera
Formicidae

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Population fluctuates greatly.

Adults feed flower nectar and sometimes aphid honeydew (Scott, 1986).

Can be found throughout the season, from late April into October.

"Eggs of the Painted Lady are tiny, green and ribbed. Caterpillars emerge from the capped part of the egg. When they emerge, caterpillars are small, black and begin to eat immediately. As they grow, they shed their skin thrice, called instars. As their development progresses, the caterpillar becomes more spiky. These spikes do not contain poison and are not sharp. If under stress, the caterpillar will sometimes shed into a fifth instar, which is a very large caterpillar. The four instars take 7–11 days to turn into a chrysalis. The caterpillar then spins a patch of silk and attaches its hind end to the silk. At this point it begins changing internally, forming a """"j"""" shape. The chrysalis is very soft at first and will dent if resting on a hard surface. After hardening, the chrysalis will crack if dropped or struck. The chrysalis can be dark or light colored depending on conditions during development of the caterpillar. It takes 7–11 days for the chrysalis to turn into a butterfly. When emerging from the chrysalis the butterfly pumps its wings with fluid to expand them. This happens within a few minutes of emerging or cannot happen at all. Once the wings are expanded they are still soft for up to a day. Initially the butterfly prefers not to move as its wings harden, but after the wings harden for a few hours the painted lady will become incredibly sensitive to movement and will damage its still soft wings when frightened."

Females lay eggs on the plants their babies will eat. The caterpillars that hatch out feed continuously and molt several times. After a few weeks they transform into a pupa, go through a complete metamorphosis, and emerge as an adult butterfly. The timing of this depends on the climate, the warmer it is the faster they grow.

Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis

The light green cylindrical eggs have vertical ribs. Mature larvae are grey-brown with fine yellow and black markings and yellow branched spines (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Larvae live in silken leaf-nests on the hostplant (Layberry et al. 1998). This species is rare or absent in Alberta in most years, but in years that populations build up in the southern United States, worn and often tattered migrants appear in May to lay their eggs, having flown thousands of miles. The offspring of these migrants emerge from July onwards. Since it is rare or absent in most years in Alberta, it is thought that Painted Ladies cannot overwinter here, and re-colonize in good migrant years. It is not known if summer brood individuals attempt a southward return migration in the fall here; they may in the southwestern US (Scott 1986), but there is no evidence they do so in British Columbia (Guppy & Shepard 2001).  

The eggs are laid singly and hatched after about a week. The larvae create a tent-like shelter of leaves spun together with silk, within which feeding takes place, and pupate inside these shelters. The adults emerge after about two weeks and it has several generations per year.

Females lay eggs on the plants their babies will eat. The caterpillars that hatch out feed continuously and molt several times. After a few weeks they transform into a pupa, go through a complete metamorphosis, and emerge as an adult butterfly. The timing of this depends on the climate, the warmer it is the faster they grow.

Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis

February-November

"Lifespan depends on the climate, but is probably never more than one winter. Only adults survive through winter, and even then only in mild climates."

Lifespan depends on the climate, but is probably never more than one winter. Only adults survive through winter, and even then only in mild climates.

Lifespan depends on the climate, but is probably never more than one winter. Only adults survive through winter, and even then only in mild climates.

"Mating System: polygynous A green, barrel-shaped egg is laid singly on a host plant. The color of the larva varies from chartreuse with black marbling to a purple with a yellow hue. Breeding season: All year in the tropics, spring and summer in cooler climates. Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; year-round breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (Internal); oviparous Parental Investment: no parental involvement."

Mating System: polygynous

In the temperate zone, reproductive behavior stops in the fall, but it may go on year-round in warmer climates.

Breeding season: All year in the tropics, spring and summer in cooler climates.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; year-round breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous

Parental Investment: no parental involvement

Mating System: polygynous

A green, barrel-shaped egg is laid singly on a host plant. The color of the larva varies from chartreuse with black marbling to a purple with a yellow hue.

Breeding season: All year in the tropics, spring and summer in cooler climates.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; year-round breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous

Parental Investment: no parental involvement

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 38
Specimens with Barcodes: 153
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 18 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

These are such common butterflies that they need no special conservation efforts.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Not of concern.

These are such common butterflies that they need no special conservation efforts.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

Migrant

Not Assessed (not resident in Egypt)

Abundant

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Abundant migratory. Occurs virtually worldwide.

Not listed under any conservation designations or legislation (2).

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

The appearance of this species in Britain, and indeed its survival as a whole, relies on the persistence of suitable habitat in its source populations, outside of Europe (2).

Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

No conservation measures are in place for this species.