Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Painted Lady is the world's most widely distributed butterfly — found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. In Britain it's a migrant that cannot survive winter — all UK individuals arrive from North Africa and Europe each spring, and some research suggests UK-bred butterflies migrate back to Africa in autumn. Numbers fluctuate wildly: in 1996, Painted Ladies were abundant across the Sefton Coast dunes. The tawny-orange, black and white patterning with rose-pink underwing is distinctive.
At a Glance
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae |
| Habitat | Open dune grassland · Rough grassland with thistles · Garden |
| Diet | Adults: thistles, knapweed, Buddleia. Larvae: thistles, Burdock, Borage. |
| UK population | Entirely migratory; varies from very common to abundant depending on year |
| Sefton Coast | Variable — abundant in good years (1996 was exceptional), scarce in others. Dune thistles attract large numbers. |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Open dune grassland and scrub edges wherever thistles flower. Numbers can be extraordinary in good years.
Identification
Medium-large butterfly. Tawny-orange with black and white pattern on forewings. Pink-tinged hindwing underside with complex patterning. Row of small eye spots on hindwing. Five white spots on black forewing tip.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Check thistle patches on the dune grassland from late May. In good years they can be on every flower. The orange-on-black pattern is distinctive even in flight.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Painted Ladies really migrate to Africa from Britain?
Yes. Research using stable hydrogen isotopes in butterfly wings has shown that UK-bred Painted Ladies migrate south in autumn, potentially reaching West Africa. The migration is multigenerational — no individual makes the complete round trip. Instead, parent butterflies breed in the UK, and their offspring continue south. It's one of the most remarkable migration stories in the insect world.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.