American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)

Closer Look At An American Painted Lady

September 6, 2026

Like many butterflies, the closer one looks the more details are revealed. This is the same species of butterfly that I posted yesterday, an American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), in a dorsal, or wings open, or upper side view.

This a ventral, or wings up, or under side view. Quite a change from the dorsal view. This view provides eye spots to startle predators.

And here again the dorsal view, with sunlight shining through. Sunlight can change the look of everything when looking at a butterfly.

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Two American Painted Lady Butterflies (Vanessa virginiensis)

September 5, 2026

Two American Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa virginiensis) enjoying the nectar of Goldenrod (Solidago), which provides them with a rich source of high-energy food. Goldenrod blooms in late summer and into autumn when the vast selection of spring and summer flowers are gone.

These butterflies migrate, spending the winter in the southern United States, Mexico and Central America before returning north in the spring.

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