Painted Lady
© Copyright Forests From Farms
Painted Lady - Vanessa Cardui
More information about this butterfly on these sites:
Since 2022 we monitor the presence of butterflies on the land of Forests From Farms.
Our observations regarding the Painted Lady butterfly until now :
- First seen in May 2022 and photographed feeding on shrubs and laying eggs on a thistle. We now know that the Painted Lady lays its eggs on thistles and the caterpillars feed on these thistles when the eggs hatch. Furthermore in May they feed also on clover.
- The Painted Lady reappeared again in July. Obviously these butterflies were the offspring of the butterflies that laid eggs in May.
- It was also present in 2023 and in 2025.
- In 2025 we found an injured Painted Lady so took it inside. We kept in for several weeks. In the meantime she laid many eggs. We fed the caterpillars with fresh thistles every day. We were able to see the whole process from egg, to larve, to caterpillar, to chrysalis and to butterfly. Fascinating!!!!
Best photographs of 2022
Best photographs of 2023
