NatureMapping Animal Facts for Kids


American Lady


American Lady or American Painted Lady  Vanessa virginiensis (Drury, 1773)
La Mujer Americana o La Mujer Pintada Americana - en Espaņol

What they look like:

The top surface of the forewings (upper two wings) are reddish orange with a black edge and small white spots. American painted ladies have two large "eye spots" on the underside of their hind wings whereas the painted lady has four smaller eye spots. The underside of the hind wings (lower two wings) are grayish brown and feature a spidery network of creamy white lines.

The caterpillar are black with yellow and black bands, small yellow spots and bristly spines.

American Lady

How big are they? Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 5/8 inches (4.5 - 6.7 cm).

How do butterflies breathe? We breathe air into our lungs. Special red blood cells pick up the oxygen, and the arteries of our circulatory system carry the oxygen to the rest of our body. Unlike people, butterflies don't have lungs. Monarchs breathe through tiny holes on the sides of their bodies called spiracles (pronouced SPEAR AH CUL). The holes open into a system of tubes (called trachea) that carry the oxygen all over their bodies.

Where are they? The American Lady is found throughout the United States.

Where they live: American Lady can be found in open habitats including fields, meadows, and roadsides.

What they eat: The American Lady feeds on nectar from flowing plants, including dogbane, aster, goldenrod, marigold, selfheal, common milkweed, and vetch. Larva feed on pearly everlasting , plantain-leaved pussy toes, wormwood, ironweed, and burdock.


Did you know?
  • American Ladies have two large "eye spots" on the underside of their hind wings
  • The American Lady looks very similar to the Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

American Lady

American Lady feeding on nectar.

More Information about American Lady

American Lady - Species Detail >>

Animal silhouettes available to purchase »


Photo credits: photos © 2007 Tim Knight

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