Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00089
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Open this record in the interactive Atlas
About Painted Lady
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) belongs to Nymphalidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status is introduced.
Natural history and identification
The painted lady is a widely distributed butterfly with caterpillars that use many plant species. Larvae make silk shelters on their food plants. Its broad host range and mobility help explain why adult sightings can occur away from the plants where it developed. A local breeding record requires eggs, larvae, or pupae associated with an identified host.
Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence
Atlas occurrence category: Present. The Kauaʻi record is classified as “Present”. Its cited evidence source is iNaturalist Kauaʻi checklist.
Account coverage
Published species details have been added. A complete Kauaʻi-specific account of identification, habitat, feeding, reproduction, and population trend is not yet established by the sources linked here.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Vanessa cardui
- Common names
- Painted Lady
- Family
- Nymphalidae
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) belongs to Nymphalidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status is introduced.