<> Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus,1758) <>

the Painted Lady ผีเสื้อแดงยุโรป

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All the photos on this page were taken in regions other than SE Asia.

This is the most widely distributed species in the world and is also found in other parts of Asia, in Europe, North (but not South) America, and Africa. It is only common in the northern parts of SE Asia and further south it is a much rarer visitor. The huge range of larval hosts (more than 300 worldwide) and adult food sources plus the wide selection of habitats used, is undoubtedly a factor in its vast distribution. Also, it is migratory and sometimes travels very long distances to reach its final destination. It is a medium-large butterfly and is a strong flier. The sexes are similar in appearance but the female is slightly larger. The adults are avid nectar feeders and are multivoltine, with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio cardui, Pyrameis cardui, Vanessa pulchra

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Nymphalinae - Vanessa - cardui

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: forest, hillsides, grassland, scrubland, urban areas, up to 4000m a.s.l. Wingspan: 58-70mm

Flight time: all year depending on location

Life History: egg 3-7 days instar 1 4-5 days instar 2 4-5 days instar 3 4-5 days instar 4 4-5 days instar 5 4-5 days pupa 10-14 days Total egg to adult 33-44 days (in cooler climates, up to 60 days). All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: includes .... Achillea millefolium, Anaphalis margaritacea, Anaphalis subdecurrens, Arctium lappa, Arctotis stoechadifolia, Artemisia indica, Artemisia pallens, Artemisia princeps, Artemisia roxburghiana, Artemisia scoparia, Artemisia vulgaris, Blumea balsamifera, Blumea lacera, Calendula officinalis, Carduus crispus, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium japonicum, Cynara cardunculus, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Echinops echinatus, Euchiton japonicus, Gamochaeta pensylvanica, Gamochaeta purpurea, Helianthus annuus, Helianthus argophyllus, Jacobaea maritima, Lactuca sativa, Laggera alata, Pseudognaphalium affine, Senecio cineraria, Silybum marianum, Xanthium spinosum, Xanthium strumarium (Asteraceae), Glycine max, Lablab purpureus, Lathyrus oleraceus, Medicago sativa, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, Zornia diphylla, Zornia gibbosa (Fabaceae), Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae), Boehmeria clidemioides, Boehmeria nivea, Debregeasia longifolia, Debregeasia saeneb, Girardinia diversifolia, Urtica dioica, Urtica thunbergiana (Urticaceae), Symphytum officinale (Boraginaceae), Alcea rosea, Malva neglecta, Malva parviflora, Malva pusilla, Malva sylvestris, Malva verticillata (Malvaceae), Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae), Brassica rapa, Raphanus raphanistrum (Brassicaceae), Ulmus davidiana (Ulmaceae), Beta vulgaris, Chenopodium album (Amaranthaceae), Citrullus colocynthis, Cucumis melo (Cucurbitaceae), Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae), Nicotiana glauca, Solanum tuberosum (Solanaceae), Oryza sativa, Zea mays (Poaceae), Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major (Plantaginaceae), Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae), Smilax china, Smilax perfoliata (Smilacaceae), Calotropis gigantea (Apocynaceae). Hosts used depends upon location and availability of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - includes .... Lantana camara, Verbena rigida (Verbenaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Bidens pilosa, Crassocephalum cerpidioides, Gynura nitida, Helichrysum bracteatum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Taraxacum javanicum, Tridax procumbens, Vernonia conyzoides, Youngia japonica (Asteraceae), Carissa congesta (Apocynaceae), Gnidia glauca (Thymelaeaceae), Alternanthera pungens (Amaranthaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Hypericum japonicum, Hypericum mysorense (Hypericaceae), Justicia japonica (Acanthaceae), Sida acuta (Malvaceae), Oplismenus undulatifolius (Poaceae), Oxalis latifolia (Oxalidaceae), Leucas lamiifolia, Plectranthus barbatus, Rotheca serrata (Lamiaceae), Cytisus scoparius (Fabaceae), Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae), Trichilia connaroides (Meliaceae), Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Oenothera rosea (Onagraceae), Fragaria nubicola, Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), Rhamnus wightii (Rhamnaceae), Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia rothiana (Euphorbiaceae), Coelogyne corymbosa, Dendrobium devonianun (Orchidaceae), Rhododendron falconeri (Ericaceae), Cyananthus incanus (Campanulaceae), Machilus odoratissima (Lauraceae), Gentiana capitata (Gentianaceae). Other - mud puddling (occasional)