West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella (Field, 1971)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is orange-brown with an orange bar at the leading edge of the forewing; hindwing with 3 or 4 blue submarginal spots. Underside with complex pattern; eyespots are obscured by other markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 inches (3/8 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: Males perch to watch for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on upperside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves and live in a silken nest. Adults hibernate.
Flight: Many flights throughout the year in lowland California; two flights, summer and fall, in the Rocky Mountains; one flight in higher mountains.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae) including tree mallow (Lavatera), globe mallow (Sphaeralcea), bush mallow (Malvastrum), mallow (Malva), alkali mallow (Sida), checkerbloom (Sidalcea), and hollyhock (Althea).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open places including weedy areas, gardens, roadsides, fields, foothills, chaparral, disturbed areas.
Range: Western North America from southern British Columbia south to Baja California Norte; south and east to Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Mexico. Strays to central Kansas, eastern North Dakota, and southern Ontario.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Occasionally causes minor damage to hollyhock (Althaea) leaves.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 980 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 19, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 30, 2026
Observation date: Jan 21, 2026
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 30, 2026
Observation date: Nov 29, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 02, 2025
Observation date: Nov 25, 2025
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 26, 2025
Observation date: May 21, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2025
Observation date: Oct 31, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2025
Observation date: Sep 11, 2007
Submitted by: hank4044
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 17, 2025
Observation date: Sep 12, 2011
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 14, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2025
Observation date: Jul 21, 2025
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2025
Observation date: May 19, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 02, 2025
Observation date: May 19, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 20, 2025
Observation date: May 16, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: May 11, 2025
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 12, 2025
Observation date: Apr 21, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 22, 2025
Observation date: Feb 26, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 29, 2015
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 10, 2024
Observation date: Oct 19, 2024
Submitted by: Mary Scott
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 06, 2024
Observation date: Nov 02, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 26, 2024
Observation date: Oct 29, 2024
Submitted by: Mulberry
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2024
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 01, 2024
Observation date: Sep 14, 2024
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 25, 2024
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