A Butterfly Break

February 29, 2016December 23, 2019 Julie Feinstein Blogs, Wildlife

Tired of grey February skies? Here’s a nice butterfly from warmer and brighter times last year.

It’s an American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis.

Its upper side is black and orange with white spots and a touch of purple in some of the spots on the hind wing.

butterfly1 — From below it looks like another butterfly altogether: pink and beige and purple with a spider-web-like net of white lines. The two large eyes pots on the hind wing distinguish it from the similar closely related butterfly, Vanessa cardui, the painted lady, which has a row of four small eye spots there.

Here is the underside of a Painted Lady for comparison. Note four eye spots on the hind wing.

Julie Feinstein

I am a Collection Manager at the American Museum of Natural History, an author, and a photographer. I live in New York City. I recently published my first popular science book, Field Guide to Urban Wildlife, an illustrated collection of natural history essays about common animals. I update my blog, Urban Wildlife Guide, every Sunday.

Julie Feinstein

I am a Collection Manager at the American Museum of Natural History, an author, and a photographer. I live in New York City. I recently published my first popular science book, Field Guide to Urban Wildlife, an illustrated collection of natural history essays about common animals. I update my blog, Urban Wildlife Guide, every Sunday.

A Butterfly Break

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Julie Feinstein

Julie Feinstein

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