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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 731 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 17, 2016
Submitted by: joshuagsmith
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 23, 2017
Observation date: Jul 30, 2015
Submitted by: breck7348
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2017
Observation date: Jun 07, 2017
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 07, 2017
Observation date: May 21, 2017
Submitted by: philohela
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2017
Observation date: May 01, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2017
Observation date: Mar 27, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2017
Observation date: Mar 19, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 24, 2017
Observation date: Mar 07, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 13, 2017
Observation date: Oct 02, 2016
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 05, 2016
Observation date: Sep 14, 2016
Submitted by: taogirl
Region: Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 02, 2016
Observation date: Sep 10, 2016
Submitted by: Fritz Riedel
Region: Calaveras County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 26, 2016
Observation date: Sep 01, 2016
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 06, 2016
Observation date: Aug 15, 2016
Submitted by: TPeterson
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 03, 2016
Observation date: Aug 11, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2016
Observation date: Aug 07, 2016
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2016
Observation date: Jan 29, 2015
Submitted by: DCLinck
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2016
Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2016
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: tinyHousebigGarden
Region: San Francisco County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 09, 2016
Observation date: Jun 22, 2016
Submitted by: Vickie
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2016
Observation date: May 17, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 18, 2016
Observation date: Apr 21, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Nicolas Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 22, 2016
Observation date: Feb 21, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 23, 2016
Observation date: Oct 11, 2015
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 12, 2015
Observation date: Aug 03, 2015
Submitted by: marystarr
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 04, 2015
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