American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
What it is
The American painted lady or American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is a butterfly found throughout North America.
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- You can find American Ladies in open, sunny areas like fields, gardens, meadows, and disturbed sites across most of North America, including all of the United States.
- How to find it
- Search in sunny areas with plenty of flowers. They often perch on flowers with their wings open to sunbathe. Look for them feeding on nectar.
- Best time of day
- Spring through fall, active during warm, sunny daytime hours.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Nectar from flowers as an adult; caterpillars eat leaves of cudweed, everlasting.
- What eats it
- Birds, spiders, praying mantises, lizards.
Worth knowing
- The caterpillars make nests by sewing leaves together with silk.
- Adult butterflies often perch on bare ground or low foliage.
- They have two large 'eyespots' on the underside of their hindwings.
- They are sometimes confused with Painted Lady butterflies.
- They are strong fliers and can travel many miles.
- You might see them fluttering around thistle plants.
Why it matters
American Lady butterflies are important pollinators, helping plants make seeds. Their caterpillars are food for other animals.