Read about related Lepidoptera by using the "Forward" and "Backward" device icons. The butterfly members of this Order of insects include the popular and usually colorful species. Butterfly groups include monarchs, satyrs, dagerwings, leaf-wings, owls, buckeyes, admirals, checkerspots, crecents, fritillaries, heliconids, riodinids, blues, hairstreaks, coppers, whites, orange-tips, sulphurs and swallowtails.

Painted Lady Butterfly Vanessa cardui Lepidoptera Nymphalidae The Painted Lady Butterfly is similar to the Virginia Lady and the West Coast Lady. Also known as the thistle butterfly, these insects feed on flower nectar and occasionally honeydew from aphids. They hibernate in warmer climates and migrate northward in the late Spring - returning south in the Autumn in reduced numbers. Adults hilltop and fly an enthusiastic figure eight flight around potential mates. Pale green eggs are laid on a wide variety of herb plants and the yellow striped brown spiny caterpillar lives in silk nests on leaves. View the Index of Orders View Complete Photo List Ants, Bees & Wasps Butterflies & Moths Flies Beetles Lacewings & Antlions Leafhoppers & Cicadas True Bugs Cockroaches Praying Mantids Grasshoppers, Crickets Walking Sticks Dragonflies & Damselflies Mayflies Non-Insects