A common, elegant butterfly found in open spaces, gardens and parks. The wings of the American lady are a bright orange with dark brown margins along the sides. There is a large white bar in the middle of the upper front wing. Two of the dark eyespots on the upper hind wings are filled with blue. The under hind wing has two prominent large submarginal eyespots.
The larvae feed on various Asters (Asteraceae), such as the cudweeds (genus Gnaphalium), the pussytoes (Antennaria), and the everlastings (Anaphalis). Adults feed almost exclusively on flower nectar, including dogbane, aster, goldenrod, marigold, selfheal, common milkweed, and vetch
During the afternoon, males perch on hilltops or on low vegetation if there are no hills. Females lay eggs singly on the top of host plant leaves. Caterpillars are solitary, living and feeding in a nest of leaves tied with silk. Adults hibernate.
Helps in pollination and larvae are food sources for birds and other animals
Least Concern
