Distribution:

The American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis (wingspan: 1 3/4 - 2 5/8 inches (4.5 - 6.7 cm)) flies in open places with low vegetation including dunes, meadows, parks, vacant lots, forest edges and home gardens. It is a resident of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America south to Colombia. It migrates to and temporarily colonizes the northern United States, southern Canada, the West Indies, and Europe. Occasionally a late summer stray makes its way to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Description:

The upperside has an uneven brown, yellow, and orange pattern. The forewing has a black apical patch, and there is a small white spot in the orange field below the patch, and a white bar at the leading edge of the forewing.

The winter form is smaller and paler; the summer form is larger with brighter coloring.

This butterfly is easily distinguished from its close relative the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) by the two large, distinctive eyespots on the underside of the hindwing. The Painted Lady has a series of four or five smaller eyespots instead of the two large ones of the American lady, below.

Vanessa virginiensis on Indian blanket, Florida, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Flight time(s) and Adult Food Sources:

This species broods continuously where weather/climate permit. There are three to four broods from May-November in cooler climates. It is not known if adults can survive very cold winters; the East may have to be recolonized each year by southern migrants.

This common butterfly can be found in Texas throughout the season feeding on lantana, purple coneflower, milkweed, button bush, dogbane, aster, goldenrod, marigold, selfheal, vetch and many others.

Eggs, Larvae, Pupae:

During the afternoon, males perch on hilltops or on low vegetation if there are no hills. Females lay eggs singly on the top of host plant leaves. Caterpillars are solitary, living and feeding in a nest of leaves tied with silk. The caterpillars prefer to feed on pussytoes (Antennaria) and plantains.

In Texas, Dale Clark lists Cudweed (Gnaphalium obtusifolium); Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea); Hollyhock (Althes rosea); Nettles (Urtica spp.)

In Newbury, Massachusetts, Sharon Stichter uses Antennaria plantaginifolia in her butterfly garden. Sharon reports, "The food plant for American Ladies which is most abundant in the wild in northeastern Massachusetts is pussytoes--Antennaria neglecta, I think, although there may be other species around, such as Antennaria rosea".

Vanessa virginiensis, Florida, larva courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Vanessa virginiensis, Virginia, pupa by Tom Allen.

Adults hibernate under house shingles, fallen brush, anywhere they can find shelter from freezing winds.

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SPHINGIDAE OF THE AMERICAS
KIRBY WOLFE COLLECTION OF WORLDWIDE SATURNIIDAE
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TIM DYSON NIGHT VISION PHOTOGRAPHY (Catocala)
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