Painted Lady ©Gillian Day
Painted Lady ©Scott Petrek
Painted lady
Scientific name: Vanessa cardui
A well-travelled migrant, the painted lady arrives here every summer from Europe and Africa. This beautiful orange-and-black butterfly regularly visits gardens.
Species information
Category
Statistics
Wingspan: 5.8-7.4cmConservation status
Common.
When to see
April to OctoberAbout
A fairly large orange, black and white butterfly, the painted lady is a migrant to the UK from North Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe during the summer; sometimes it arrives here in enormous numbers. A frequent visitor to gardens, it will feed on Buddleia and other flowers. The caterpillars feed on thistles, mallows and Viper's-bugloss, as well as various cultivated plants.This species cannot survive our winter in any form.