Species Profile

Vanessa cardui

Also known as Painted Lady, Cosmopolitan, Thistle Butterfly

Painted ladies undertake spectacular multi-generational migrations that span thousands of miles across continents, navigating by the sun and wind. Their wings feature a complex mosaic of orange, black, and white on the upper side, with a mottled gray and brown underside that provides excellent camouflage when resting. Caterpillars construct protective silk nests on host plants, particularly thistles, where they feed safely from predators.