Vanessa virginiensis, North America and
Mexico
The Painted Lady Butterfly is Medium-size nymphalid butterfly with rapid,
erratic flight that visits flowers and sometimes rests with wings open
to collect sunlight. So as not to confuse the Painted Lady with the American
Painted Lady  remember
that the latter has black with yellow cross bands and white to rust-colored
two large eyespots on the wing's underside. Its natural habitat in sunny
and flowery open spots, sandy gardens, home gardens, streambed's, riversides,
and canyons.
During caterpillar stage the insect is about 1 3/8" (35 mm) and makes
a solitary nest of silk and leaves on species of everlasting's trees and
other natural composites. The Painted Lady is also known as the Thistle
Butterfly because its one of the caterpillars' favorite food preference
making it one of the most widely distributed butterflies in the world.
When an adult emerges from the cocoon it hangs upside down and pumps blood
into its four wings, inflating them. It waits for its delicate wings to
dry and is off flying a few hours after emerging.
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