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 1003 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 15, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2026
Observation date: Jun 22, 2026
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 29, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Jun 11, 2026
Submitted by: flutterflies
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 12, 2026
Observation date: May 03, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2026
Observation date: May 16, 2026
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 18, 2026
Observation date: May 13, 2026
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2026
Observation date: May 12, 2026
Submitted by: gp
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2026
Observation date: May 12, 2026
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 12, 2026
Observation date: Apr 04, 2026
Submitted by: yhelfman
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 09, 2026
Observation date: Apr 30, 2026
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 03, 2026
Observation date: Feb 08, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 11, 2026
Submitted by: LittleLadyLucy
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 11, 2026
Submitted by: LittleLadyLucy
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 11, 2026
Submitted by: LittleLadyLucy
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 09, 2026
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2026
Observation date: Mar 25, 2024
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 06, 2026
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2026
Observation date: Mar 28, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: LeptonGalaxy
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2026
Observation date: Mar 13, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2026
Observation date: Feb 11, 2026
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 13, 2026
Observation date: Jan 19, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 30, 2026
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