(one synonym : Cynthia carduelis)
European Painted Lady
NYMPHALINAE, NYMPHALIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 7 July 2004)
(Photo: courtesy of
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center)
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 7 July 2004)
(Photo: courtesy of
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center)
This Caterpillar is black with branched hairs. It is a popular Caterpillar to raise in schools. It has been reported to feed on over 100 plant species, including:
and it is a pest outside Australia on
The adult butterflies have a wing span around 5 cms. They are mottled orange and black, with a small white markings in the black areas, and each hindwing has a blue streak at the tornus.
The undersides are paler but have a similar pattern.
They are a worldwide species, occurring for example in :
The Caterpillar is seldom found in Australia. The species has mainly been found in Western Australia and in South Australia, where it seems that migrant adults have crossed the Indian Ocean from Africa.
Further reading :
Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, p. 581.
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