Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Caterpillar host plant: Thistle (Cirsium sp.) Adult nectar plants: A wide variety, including Thistles (Cirsium sp.), Asters (Eurybia sp.), Ironweeds (Vernonia sp), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Milkweeds (Asclepias sp.) Identification: Similar marking as American Lady, but orange coloring on wings has a bit more pink; four smaller distinct eyespots on outer hindwing Abundance: Uncommon Photo credit: urolucas
American Lady Vanessa virginiensis Caterpillar host plant: Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), Silvery cudweed (Gamochaeta argyrinea), and Purple everlasting (Gamochaeta purpurea) Adult food sources: Thistles (Cirsium sp.), Asters (Eurybia sp.), Ironweeds (Vernonia sp), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Chinese privet (Ligustrum), and Milkweeds (Asclepias sp.) Identification: Similar to Painted Lady but only two large eyespots on outer hindwing and perfect white dot in orange stripe on inner forewing Abundance: Very common
Photo credit: Christa Hayes
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