Eggs are light green and barrel–shaped. Overview. The upper wing surfaces are brown with red and orange mottling and white and black spots. You can help to explore their migrations from where you live. Vanessa cardui This species was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Europe, Africa). Each hind wing has a row of four distinct and obscure eyespots. We are studying their migratory routes. Their popularity comes with their remarkable long-distance migrations whilst also being one of the most widespread of all butterfly species. Where do they move every season? Caterpillar Hosts: More than 100 host plants have been noted; favorites include thistles (Asteraceae), hollyhock and mallow (Malvaceae), and various legumes (Fabaceae). Painted ladies do not hibernate in Britain; instead they migrate to and from northern Africa. Adult Food: The Painted Lady prefers nectar from composites 3-6 feet high, especially thistles; also aster, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, and joe-pye weed. Where do they breed? The thistle caterpillar, Vanessa cardui, is in the Nymphalidae family and order Lepidoptera. You will learn in this site how to find them and how to be an active participant in the project by reporting your data. Thistle caterpillar larvae have a wide host range that includes up to 300 plant species. The forewings have black tips marked with white spots; the hindwings have rows of black spots. The map below shows the distribution of the Painted Lady. Thistle caterpillar (Vanessa cardui), also known as the painted lady butterfly, is a sporadic pest of soybeans in the U.S. Vanessa cardui does not overwinter in the Corn Belt, but migrates north from southern states and Mexico each year. Distribution Map for: Painted Lady. Species: Vanessa cardui. The Painted Lady Butterfly caterpillar, Vanessa cardui When small the caterpillars live for most of the time within a tent of leaves loosely spun together with silk.
The undersides are pale with blue eyespots. Thistle caterpillar larvae have a wide host range that includes up to 300 plant species. Eggs are small, spherical and white. The adult is also known as the painted lady butterfly. Identification of Thistle caterpillar (Vanessa cardui) Adults (Figure 1) Upper side of front wings are red–orange and brown, with black and white spots. Speckles of black frass amongst the silk woven leaves is often a sign a caterpillar is present. Larvae have a wide host range that includes soybean, but can feed on over 300 plants. Thistle Caterpillar (Painted Lady) Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) Description: The body of the adult is about 1 inch long with a wingspan of about 2 inches. Thistle caterpillar (Vanessa cardui), also known as the painted lady butterfly, is a sporadic pest of soybeans in the U.S. Vanessa cardui does not overwinter in the Corn Belt, but migrates north from southern states and Mexico each year. Scientific name: Vanessa cardui; Type: Insects; Key information Painted lady butterflies have a pale buffy-orange background colour to the upper wings. Some years, when southern populations reach large numbers or weather conditions are right, painted ladies will migrate north and expand their range temporarily. If the species distribution is shown, the National Grid and the Irish National Grid each consist of a number of 100 x 100 kilometre grid squares and the distribution is shown at a resolution of 10km. Eggs. Vanessa cardui is an irruptive migrant, a species that occasionally migrates without regard to geography or season. Painted ladies are a common and well-known butterfly with their distinct orange or brown with black-and-white spot patterning. Hindwings are red–orange and brown, with four black "eye spots" along the edge. This species is widespread throughout the world. Hindwings are red–orange and brown, with four black "eye spots" along the edge. The painted lady lives year-round in the tropics; in cooler climates, you may see them in spring and summer. Found almost anywhere, but favouring dry open areas, painted ladies can be abundant … Identification of Thistle caterpillar (Vanessa cardui) Adults (Figure 1) Upper side of front wings are red–orange and brown, with black and white spots. The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is the most cosmopolitan of them, migrating all over the world.
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