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| The beautiful Cynthia cardui on Mayweed (above) and on Creeping thistle. The markings on the undersides of her wings are also exquisite. - Photographs by Taina |
| Cynthia cardui � Painted Lady (Nymphalidae) Appearance: A gorgeous butterfly and a fantastic flier with a wingspan of approximately 60 mm. Her upperwings have dark brown tips with bold white marks, and the rest of the wing has a salmon-pink base colour with black markings. There are tiny blue spots near the margin of the hindwing; while the butterfly has quite uniform appearance worldwide, the Australian species has a row of small blue marks on the hindwing. The undersides are are subtly coloured with buff, whites and browns with pink on the upperwings, yet the variety of shapes resemble an exquisite mosaic work (see photo)! Geographical distribution/ habitat: The most widespread butterfly in the world and a powerful migrant. Found throughout the world in open places, fields, grassland, and occasionally in gardens. Host plant: There are a variety of them. In Europe prefers thistles (cirsium spp.), nettles (urticaceae), burdocks (arctium); also breeds on common members on the mallow and daisy families. Food plants: Visits flowers for nectar, thistles especially, and sometimes can be seen on rotting fruit. Flight time: In Europe, migratory originating from the Mediterranean region where it can be seen a great part of the year. In the spring can migrate as north as Northern Scandinavia, where reproduces and where the new brood appears at the end of the summer. Some of these butterflies migrate in the Mediterranean in swarms. Other: Migrates in swarms, not alone like Vanessa atalanta, a species of close relation. Compare their pictures - don�t they have great similarity? Photos and Information Index Home Butterfly Garden |