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Project Noah Nature School
Vanessa virginiensis
Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily: Nymphalinae Identification: Upperside with uneven brown, yellow, and orange pattern. Forewing with a black apical patch, a small white spot in the orange field below the patch, and a white bar at the leading edge of the forewing. Underside of hindwing with two large eyespots. Winter form is smaller and paler, summer form larger with brighter coloring. Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 5/8 inches (4.5 - 6.7 cm). Info from: butterfliesandmoths.org
Habitat: Open places with low vegetation including dunes, meadows, parks, vacant lots, forest edges. Range: Resident in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America south to Colombia. Migrates to and temporarily colonizes the northern United States, southern Canada, the West Indies, and Europe. Rare stray to Newfoundland and Labrador. Info from: butterfliesandmoths.org
Thank you Gerardo! And thanks to dandoucette for pointing me in the right direction....it was a tough call but I found this to be the American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis. Very similar to the cardui.
Spotted on May 13, 2012
Submitted on May 13, 2012
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