Painted Lady Butterfly

Description:

Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. The Cynthia group of colorful butterflies (Thistle butterfly). Mainly deep orange with black and white corners. Black-spotted wings. 5 white spots in the black fW tips. HW 4 small eyespots on dorsal ventral sides. 5-7.3 cm. Prefers nectar of Thistle, Asters and Milkweed to name a few.

Habitat:

Meadows mostly. Global except Australia and Antarctica (of course) Preferring the nectar of mostly Thistle (or aster) 3-6 feet high.

Notes:

A Nocturnal butterfly how strange. The first I found at the light around 9:15 p.m. (wasn't there at 9 p.m.) And I got it to sit on my finger.