Points

10

per confirmed sighting

Butterfly or mothConservation status: Least ConcernRarity not yet assessed
butterflies moths • Nymphalidae

Painted Lady.

P

Vanessa cardui

Category

butterflies moths

Family

Nymphalidae

Size

LepTraits 1.0 wingspan: approximately 5.0–6.1 cm.

Points

10 pts

Log a sighting

A closer look

Field notes for spotting, identifying and understanding painted lady in its natural range.

Overview

How to identify it

Habitat

LepTraits 1.0 habitat-affinity coding: Canopy generalist; Seen near and away from edges; Both; Disturbance-associated (weak).

Diet

LepTraits 1.0 larval host-plant association: Asteraceae. Adult diet is not inferred from host-plant data.

Behaviour

When to look

LepTraits 1.0 adult-flight months recorded: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

Where to see it

South Africa flagSouth Africa

Safety and etiquette

Observe from a safe distance and never handle or feed wildlife.

Verification and sources

1500 verified species across ten Southern African countries. Spotted an error? Tell us through community guidelines.