Garden-butterfly
Guides
Vanessa virginiensis
American Lady, American Painted Lady
Vanessa virginiensis, commonly known as the American Lady or American Painted Lady, is a widespread butterfly found throughout North America. It belongs to the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae and is closely related to the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). The species is known for its distinctive wing patterns and its habit of feeding on flower nectar. Unlike some of its Vanessa relatives, the American Lady is not strongly migratory in the mass-movement sense, though it does expand its range seasonally.