Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1202237

West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella

Observation date: April 06, 2019
Submitted by: KittKatt
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: This spring we see many butterflies of this type in our yard. Now they are landing to rest on weeds and drink nectar like this one. Many more were migrating over our house around March 14. We counted 170 in one minute flying over our house from east to west in our backyard that day! But they didn’t stop long enough to be photographed.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: April 12, 2019
Coordinator notes: In this case, this is not a Painted Lady. These can migrate to, but from lowlands into the mountains in the fall. But usually West Coast Ladies hang out in backyards and city parks. They do not migrate from Mexico to Canada and go south in the fall like Painted Ladies-Ken Davenport
Partner project: Los Angeles Butterfly Survey