American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginensis)
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginensis)
They’re backkkkkkkk. Sometimes the common name is given as American (Painted) Lady; True “painted lady” butterfly (V. cardui) has different laval hosts and eyespot count is one key to identification. See composite photos for identification: http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368
Range: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-virginiensis?quicktabs_8=0#quicktabs-8
Larval host: cudweed aka Everylasting. In my yard: Delicate Everlasting (Gamochaeta antillana) a Florida native cudweed. (syn. Gnaphalium spp.); Possibly pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), plantain-leaved pussy toes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), wormwood (Artemisia), ironweed (Vernonia), and burdock (Arctium).
Learn: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/american-painted-lady/
Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/make-a-butterfly-everlasting/
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Central Florida Critter of the Day 
I don’t think we get the painteds here. As far as remembering, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I have that trouble with the crescent pearl vs phaon crescent. No matter how well I think I know them, as soon as I see one I have to go back to the website to re-read the difference. Some with viceroy v. queen. I always have to run and check the extra “line” on the wing to be double sure. HA!
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Absolutely! And the older I get, the worse it gets! Help!
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This year I’m seeing both Vanessas in my garden; most years I mainly see the painted lady. My biggest problem is remember which one I’m looking at! (“Now, do the 2 big eye spots on the underside of the rear wing signal
American lady or painted lady? How about the blurred eyespots on the topside of that rear wing?”)
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Beautiful insect!
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