DSC1516 Painted Lady - a photo on Flickriver

            Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui

The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland.

Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonising mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, frequenting gardens and other flowery places in late summer.

Painted lady butterflies have a pale buffy-orange background colour to the upper wings. The forewings have black tips marked with white spots; the hindwings have rows of black spots. The undersides are pale with blue eyespots.

Painted ladies do not hibernate in Britain; instead they migrate to and from northern Africa. They can arrive in early spring, but late May and June are more usual. They are fairly common across Britain, numerous in some years.

Females lay their small, green eggs on a range of species, such as nettles and mallows, but thistles are the general favourite. When the caterpillars hatch they begin to eat the underside of the leaf. As they grow, each constructs a tent of folded leaves fastened with silk.

Caterpillars pupate and remain suspended in a large tent of leaves until the adults emerge in August and September. The whole British population dies or emigrates to Africa in the autumn.

Caterpillars are black, speckled with tiny white spots and have a yellow stripe down each side. They are covered in spines.

Taken on: August 5, 2019

Tags:

Painted-Lady

Butterflies

Insects

Insect

Lepidoptera

Wildlife.

Wetlands

Woodlands

Wildlife Photography

Jeff Lack Photography

Nature Photography

Nature

Nectaring

Wildflowers

Flowers

Summer Migrant

Parklands

Gardens

Grasslands

Heathland

Hedgerows

Heathlands

Heaths

Nikon

Marshland

Meadows

Moors

Macro

coth5

NGC « less

Sets appears in: • Painted Lady

Groups appears in: • Butterflies • Lepidoptera more » • UK Nature • European butterflies • Natural Macros • Flickr Nature • Bugsssss - P1/C1 - DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT !! • Insect Macro Photography • British Lepidoptera • Butterfly Gallery • Butterfly Color • A Guide To The Birds Of Europe • Bird and Nature Photography • Butterfly Beauty • Macro! Macro!! Macro!!! • Damn! I Wish I'd Taken That!!! (Invite Only) Post 1-Award2 . • Insects and butterflys • En armonía con la Naturaleza • Wildlife UK • MARIPOSAS&BIRDS&FLORA&FAUNA&BUTTERFLY • * THE 3 B's ~ BEES, BUTTERFLIES, & BUGS (post 1 ~ award 1) • #4 PLATINUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 1 (P2-A2) with CODE • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Colors Of The Heart! *Invited Images Only*! • Best Of DAMN! I Wish I'd Taken That • Butterflies of Britain • *Nature's Beautiful Photography- (P1~A1)NO PEOPLE/NO BUILDINGS • Moths and butterflies of The British Isles • Nature's Golden Carousel ~ Closed! • UK - Wildlife & Nature • ! * Fantastic Nature Group *Moderated* » Post 1 and Award 1 « • Great British Wildlife • ***Naturally Wonderful***[100% NATURE]NO PEOPLE/BUILDINGS/BOATS • #3 PALLADIUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 5 (P2-A10) with CODE • [][][]Nature.. Light and Color[][][] • BOKEH PAINTING • [][][]Macro* Art * News[][][] • [][][]Butterflies & Dragonflies of the world [][][] • !* Butterflies world * Only these insects! P1/C3 • [][][]Le Farfalle... fiori volanti[][][] / only butterflies • #2 18K Gold wildlife/ Post 1 - Award 3 (P2-A6) with CODE • ALL MACRO • UK Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars • Eblouissante Nature / Brilliant Nature - P1/C2 - No People • Butterfly dreams.. by admin invitation ~ P1/A2 • -- AMORE PER LA NATURA - P1/C2 • Nature of the British Isles • Our Wonderful and Fragile World - P1 - A4 • [][][]Flora on Flickr[][][] • INSECTS-BUTTERFLIES AND SPIDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD-P1 C2 • NATURE'S SPIRIT (by invitation) (post 1/award 1) • Frame It! ~Level 01~ (P1/A5) • CREATURES IN THEIR HABITATS • **FLORA & FAUNA INTERNATIONAL** 100%Nature~NO People/Buildings • "ATTIMI DI NATURA - MOMENTS OF NATURE" • Butterflies of the world / Mariposas del mundo • * Wonderful World of Wildlife * • Wildlife Sightings UK • Insect Sightings UK • Fav+ Butterfly (P1-Fav2) • Makro-Fotografija • Worldwide Fauna • Nature and Animals (Wild Only) • Macro photography "close-up" • South Wales Wildlife Photography « less

Stats: 10,771 views / 179 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: