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Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - Parc des Rapides, Lachine - 2017-09-16
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) - 2017-09-16

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Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

The Painted Lady is one of the most widespread butterflies, except Australia, South America and Antarctica, and can be spotted usually in warmer areas but migrates North in Spring. Migration patterns are erratic, so that the species doesn’t appear abundantly every year in the Montreal area.

  • 🇫🇷 Belle-Dame, Vanesse des chardons
  • 🇩🇪 Distelfalter
  • 🇲🇽 Vanesa de los cardos

Characteristics

  • Weight: 0.2-0.4g
  • Wingspan: 5-7cm

How to Identify

To identify this species, a ventral view is necessary as the series of smaller spots on the hindwing is a distinguishable characteristics if compared with similar species like the American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis).

Click on photo to enlarge.

Where and When to Spot

They appear in waves, passing through an area on their migratory pathways, but not regularly every year. I observed them in autumn 2017 in Rapids Park Lachine. You may want to subscribe to our Facebook page. I will notify when I see them.