Vanessa annabella

West Coast Lady

Though less common than V. cardui, it is usually possible to find some during good Painted Lady years, and even occasionally when the Painted Lady is scarce or absent. Like V. cardui and V. atalanta, the West Coast Lady is to be found cavorting on the hilltops during the late afternoons of June to September. The caterpillar feeds on Malva, and is distinguished from similar species in that the specklings are bright yellow.