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Vanessa virginiensis
The American Lady butterfly is very similar to the West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) and the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), but it can be identified by the presence of a small white spot on an orange area of the forewing. This white spot is visible on both sides of the forewings. The American Lady also has two, distinctive eye-spots on its ventral hindwings (The Firefly Forest <http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2005/11...>)
The American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is a common butterfly found in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America (The Firefly Forest <http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2005/11...>) Vanessa virginiensis lives in flowery habitats, usually in mountains. The larvae feed on various Asteraceae, especially the cudweeds of genus Gnaphalium. All stages of the life cycle can be found throughout temperate North America as well as Madeira and the Canary Islands. Occasionally individuals can be found as far as south-west Europe (Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pa...>)
The caterpillars of the American Lady feed on plants in the Aster Family (Asteraceae), and the adults will feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers, but they are especially fond of aster flowers (The Firefly Forest <http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2005/11...>)
yeah, it's hard to get good pictures using an iPhone. When I'm in Guatemala, I'll be using a digital camera that's much better at zoom and capturing moving critters
I believe you have mixed up your species. I'm pretty sure the first one is an American Lady, but the second image here looks like a Common Buckeye.
I think first one is Common Tiger or plane tiger as colour combination observed.
ha. that's because I accidentally put pictures of two different butterflies...sorry! There were a LOT of butterflies around this bush so I just snapped away. I'll re-post the pictures, and I think you're right. The last ones look like a Lemon Pansy. Thanks!
Spotted on May 17, 2011
Submitted on May 17, 2011
