Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) ➔ Family Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distelfalter Painted Lady
Synonyms and other combinations:
Papilio cardui Linnaeus, 1758 [original combination] | Papilio belladonna Linnaeus, 1758 | Papilio carduelis Seba, 1765 | Papilio carduelis Cramer, 1775 | Vanessa elymi Rambur, 1829 | Vanessa minor (Cockerell, 1890) |
Classification:
Vanessa cardui belongs to the subfamily Nymphalinae, tribe Nymphalini.Note:
In the second half of October 2019 there were extremely many Painted Ladies at the Costa Calma on Fuerteventura. On the few flowering plants nectar-hungry Vanessa cardui gathered.During a walk along the beach I noticed that at least some of the butterflies were migrating. In the 2 to 3 days in which I observed the butterflies, at least 100 000 specimens must have flown along the coast. The flight altitude reached from approx. 30 cm above the water surface up to some m height. The Painted Ladies all flew to the northeast.
References, further reading, links:
- Camberwell Beauty
- Cardinal
- Comma Butterfly
- Great Banded Grayling
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary
- Lesser Purple Emperor
- Map Butterfly
- Marbled White
- Meadow Brown
- Monarch
- Painted Lady
- Peacock Butterfly
- Plain Tiger
- Poplar Admiral
- Purple Emperor
- Queen of Spain Fritillary
- Red Admiral
- Ringlet
- Silver-washed Fritillary
- Small Heath
- Small Tortoiseshell
- Southern White Admiral
- Speckled Wood
- Spotted Fritillary
- Wall Brown