The orange and black American Lady is a popular butterfly across many landscapes. When the wings are open, the upper side shows uneven yellow, brown and orange coloration. The forewings show a black mark along with a white spot below it, a white bar by the edge of the forewing. When the wings are closed, the undersides of the hindwings exhibit a pair of large eyespots.
“American Lady” by John Flannery, licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)
American Lady Facts
Butterfly Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
Butterfly Subfamily: True Brushfoot (Nymphalinae)
Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/4 in. to 2 5/8 in.
Butterfly Habitat: Open areas and gardens
American Lady Host and Nectar Plants
Host Plants:
- Ironweed
- Mallow
- Pearly Everlasting
- Pussy-toe
- Silver Brocade
- Sunflower
Nectar Plants:
- Aster
- Bee Balm
- Common Milkweed
- Dogbane
- Goldenrod
- Joe-Pye Weed
- Marigold
- Tall Verbena