Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
(Cynthia cardui)
Observed in an urban garden, Eldoret, Kenya, July 2014.
This widespread migrating butterfly is common in the temperate highland areas of Kenya. Among their many larval host plants are sunflowers which are also cultivated the highlands of Kenya. This same butterfly species ranges across Asia, Europe and North America. Individual butterflies have been documented to travel 1000 km or more. The migratory status of Kenya's painted lady butterflies would be a worthy research project. The mostly black, spiny larvae (caterpillars) can be found within silken tents on thistles. The larva below was found at Eldoret in December 2015.
