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West Coast Lady

Vanessa annabella

14 Comments

Nayeli
Nayeli 9 years ago

I also learned about this little butterfly. You did a great job guys Many thanks again

KarenSaxton
KarenSaxton 9 years ago

Odd distribution, but I learned something. It was range that led me stray. We get the occasional west coast lady here and they are stunning!

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/speci...
Look at the pictures and read the distribution!

bayucca
bayucca 9 years ago

The range for Annabella is indeed West Coast and into Mexico as well, see my link below.

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 9 years ago

Karen, please verify the text and the map on the BAMONA reference I provided.
For another distribution reference:
http://eol.org/pages/4069329/maps

KarenSaxton
KarenSaxton 9 years ago

My first thought was W Coast, but it looks so different from ours and thre is no indication that W Coast move into inland mexico

At least we all agree it's Vanessa sp!

I agree with Daniele and bayucca. The Painted Lady has an extra row of white spots on the wingtips so that can be ruled out straight away. Now look at the eye spots (black with white centres) on the rear of the hind wings, I see 3 on the nearer wing but the American Lady only has 2, separated by 2 dark spots so that is ruled out also.

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 9 years ago

Thanks for your confirmation bayucca!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 9 years ago

Please check Vanessa annabella, and see what others say. Unlike V. cardui and V. virginiensis, and like your butterfly, it has an orange bar at the leading edge of the forewing.

bayucca
bayucca 9 years ago
DanielePralong
DanielePralong 9 years ago

Hi Nayeli! I can at least tell you that this is not Vanessa virginiensis. Vanessa virginiensis has an extra white dot within the forewing subapical orange field, which can not be seen in your specimen. Have a look at this picture to see where this extra white dot is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_pa...

Nayeli
Nayeli 9 years ago

Thank you guys for help me to find the ID :)

Nayeli
Nayeli 9 years ago

Oh it looks very similar, i am going to investigate more about it. Thank you LuckyLogan

LuckyLogan
LuckyLogan 9 years ago

Vanessa cardui?

Nayeli
Spotted by
Nayeli

México, Mexico

Spotted on May 18, 2014
Submitted on Jun 19, 2014

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