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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 121 - 144 of 1004 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 13, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Nov 02, 2022
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Oct 29, 2022
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Oct 31, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 01, 2022
Observation date: Oct 31, 2022
Submitted by: RichHubie
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 01, 2022
Observation date: Oct 29, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
Observation date: Oct 26, 2022
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2022
Observation date: Oct 24, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 13, 2022
Submitted by: sgensits
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 19, 2022
Observation date: Oct 13, 2022
Submitted by: Kerry Turley
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Miguel Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Feb 02, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Mexico, Mexico
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2020
Submitted by: philip.woodscc@...
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
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