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 800 verified sightings
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: butterfly rose
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2018
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: I Spy Butterflies
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2020
Observation date: Apr 22, 2020
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 24, 2020
Observation date: Mar 28, 2020
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Mar 29, 2020
Observation date: Mar 18, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2020
Observation date: Mar 12, 2020
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 13, 2020
Observation date: Mar 02, 2020
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 03, 2020
Observation date: Feb 24, 2020
Submitted by: StevebrownLepid
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 29, 2020
Observation date: Apr 15, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
Observation date: Oct 18, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 29, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2008
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 18, 2019
Observation date: Jun 19, 2006
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Fremont County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 05, 2019
Observation date: Oct 14, 2019