Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Painted Lady Butterfly
Scientific Name:
Cynthia cardui
Wingspan (mm):
Male 58-70mm, female 62-74mm Description
The Painted Lady Butterfly has a peach-to-pale-orange background colour, with brown and white patches more noticeably on it upper forewings. Spots below the margins may have blue centres. The underwings are a paler version of the upperwings, with more variation of colour, mottling and pattern on the hindwing. The female is similar to the male. The caterpillar is black and yellow and spiny.
Distribution
The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland. Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonizing mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, frequenting gardens and other flowery places in late summer.
Habitat
Because it is a wide-ranging migrant, the Painted Lady may be seen in any habitat. Adults tend to congregate in open areas with plenty of thistles, which serve both as larval foodplants and nectar sources for adults.
Diet
A wide range of foodplants may be used, with thistles being preferred in Britain and Ireland. Mallows, Common Nettle, Viper's-bugloss, and various cultivated plants also have been recorded as larval foodplants here.
Status
Numbers vary slightly from year to year, but every now and then a large influx of painted lady butteflies will increase numbers considerably throughout the British Isles. UK BAP status: not assessed Butterfly Conservation priority: low European threat status: not assessed
Did You Know?
The caterpillar of the painted lady butterfly makes a tent from Thistle leaves on which it then feeds, moving on to start again when necessary. The shiny pink and dusky grey chrysalis is particularly attractive.
Female Image
