15-5-2015 EBRO DELTA, TARRAGONA - PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY (Vanessa cardui)

Painted Lady butterflies are best known for their impressive migrations, which unlike many other migratory species, do not follow a seasonal pattern. Some hypothesize that their migratory patterns are influenced by heavy rains like El Niño, which may impact the abundance of their larval hostplants.

The Painted Lady butterflies are one of the brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae), also called four-footed butterflies. They have a five to nine-centimeter wingspan and live for about two to four weeks.

Archive. This butterfly is known by three names; Cosmopolitan for its global span, Thistle for its favored food, and Painted Lady for its impressive display. Painted lady butterflies migrate like monarchs. Unlike them, they don't seem to follow seasonal or geographic patterns.

The Painted Lady butterflies are one of the brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae), also called four-footed butterflies. They have a five to nine-centimeter wingspan and live for about two to four weeks.