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Painted lady butterfly

Cynthia cardui McCoy
Painted lady butterfly. Image: jude_p / CC BY NC

Painted lady butterfly. Image: jude_p / CC BY NC

Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Nymphalidae
Show in Te Reo

Size range

  • Wingspan about 45–50 mm

Distribution

  • Australian, sometimes blown across the Tasman in summer

Life history

  • Caterpillars feed on some plants of the daisy family e.g. Arctotis
  • Occasionally breeds in NZ, but probably does not overwinter