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) |

  • Vanessa cardui 1297
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma; 2009-03-29 13:12:13
    Image number: 1297

    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma
    2009-03-29 13:12:13
  • Vanessa cardui 1298
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma; 2009-03-26 14:26:37
    Image number: 1298

    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma
    2009-03-26 14:26:37
  • Vanessa cardui 1995
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma; 2008-02-11 15:32:16
    Image number: 1995

    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma
    2008-02-11 15:32:16
  • Vanessa cardui 9054
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma; 2019-10-29 14:50:09
    Image number: 9054

    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma
    2019-10-29 14:50:09
  • Vanessa cardui 1381
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-05-28 15:26:39
    Image number: 1381

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2006-05-28 15:26:39
  • Vanessa cardui 1382
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-07-09 13:03:24
    Image number: 1382

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2006-07-09 13:03:24
  • Vanessa cardui 6642
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2013-07-22 10:13:03
    Image number: 6642

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2013-07-22 10:13:03
  • Vanessa cardui 1383
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2006-07-15 12:18:43
    Image number: 1383

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2006-07-15 12:18:43
  • Vanessa cardui, caterpillar 1974
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui, caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2009-07-19 10:17:44
    Image number: 1974
    caterpillar
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2009-07-19 10:17:44
  • Vanessa cardui 9055
    Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)  Distelfalter  Painted Lady 
    Vanessa cardui
    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma; 2019-10-27 10:11:26
    Image number: 9055

    ES, Fuerteventura, Costa Calma
    2019-10-27 10:11:26

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:
  1. Bestimmungshilfe des Lepiforums