Painted lady vs American lady
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a painted lady from an American lady, and whether either one bites or stings.
Painted lady
Vanessa cardui
American lady
Vanessa virginiensis
≠The key differences
American lady usually has two large eyespots on the underside of the hindwing and a small white spot within the orange area near the forewing tip; painted lady has four small underside eyespots.
Painted lady has four or five small eyespots on the hindwing underside instead of two large ones, and usually lacks the small white spot in the orange area of the upper forewing that American lady shows.
⚖︎Side by side
| Painted lady | American lady | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Size | 45-65 mm wingspan | 45-60 mm wingspan |
| Colours | Orange, Black, White, Brown (underside) | Orange, Black, White, Brown |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Habitat | Open sunny sites: meadows, gardens, roadsides, disturbed ground and agricultural margins | Open, sunny habitats: gardens, meadows, roadsides, fields and open woodland edges; also urban gardens and parks. |
| Range | Nearly worldwide: Europe, Asia, Africa, North and Central America and many islands; absent from South America and Antarctica, and only a rare vagrant in Australia (where the similar Australian painted lady occurs) | Widespread across North America: from southern Canada through the United States into northern Mexico. Common regionally throughout its range. |
| Active | Active in warm months; multiple generations per year in warm regions, year-round in some tropical areas; diurnal (day-active) | Active during warm months; often seen from spring through fall (regional), daytime (diurnal). |
| Pest? | No | No |
🔍How to spot a painted lady
- Orange-brown wings with black markings and white spots on the black forewing tips.
- Underside of hindwing has several small eyespots (typically four) visible when wings are closed.
- Medium size with a wingspan about 45-65 mm and a robust, hairy body.
🔍How to spot an American lady
- Look for two prominent rounded eyespots on the underside of the hindwing (one usually larger).
- Orange-brown upperwings with a black forewing tip that bears pale spots.
- Wingspan about 45-60 mm; underside mottled browns and grays when wings are closed for camouflage.
- Compare with painted lady: American lady usually has two prominent hindwing eyespots while painted lady (Vanessa cardui) has smaller and more numerous spots on the underside.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a painted lady and an American lady?
American lady usually has two large eyespots on the underside of the hindwing and a small white spot within the orange area near the forewing tip; painted lady has four small underside eyespots. Painted lady has four or five small eyespots on the hindwing underside instead of two large ones, and usually lacks the small white spot in the orange area of the upper forewing that American lady shows.
Is a painted lady or an American lady more dangerous?
Painted lady: Non-toxic. American lady: Non-toxic. Painted ladies do not bite or sting and are not poisonous. Harmless.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.