Vanessa atalanta
Seq # 470110030
Aglais io

Vanessa virginiensis (Drury, [1773]) Species

Last modified: Oct. 4, 2025, 2:41 p.m.

This rare migrant was seen for the first time in Belgium in 2025 in AN.

Details

Classification
Family: Nymphalidae > Subfamily: Nymphalinae > Tribus: Nymphalini > Genus: Vanessa > Species: Vanessa virginiensis
Vernacular names
Amerikaanse distelvlinder (NL), American Painted Lady, American Lady (EN)
Status

Migrant

From origin an American species, but it is resident in Europe in the Canaries and the SW Iberian peninsula. It is also migratory and has occasionally been found further north.

Distribution

Imago

Wingspan 45–67 mm. A brighter orange appearance and two distinct, clear, submarginal large eyespots on the underside of the hindwing.

Museum specimens

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Specimens in nature

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Egg

Eggs are laid singly and attached to the upper surfaces of leaves, hatching in about 6–7 days.

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Bionomics

The larvae go through 5 instars, and pupation occurs mostly on the food plant. In its native habitat, the adults do not overwinter, but in some northern areas, some adults and pupae may overwinter.

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Flight periods

In warmer areas, it flies throughout the year.

Observed on

The larvae feed on different species from, among others, the plant families Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Fabaceae, and Urticaceae.

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Habitat

It inhabits a wide variety of open areas, woodland, urban areas, farmland, etc...

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Contact
Statistics
Flemish Entomological Society

jurate.deprins@gmail.com
    Species presence
  • 1813 West-Vlaanderen
  • 1802 Oost-Vlaanderen
  • 1973 Antwerpen
  • 1929 Limburg
  • 432 Vlaams Brabant
  • 1911 Brabant
  • 215 Brabant Wallon
  • 1695 Hainaut
  • 2228 Namur
  • 2145 Liège
  • 2229 Luxembourg