Painted Ladies

The news media are reporting an upsurge in sightings of painted lady butterflies. We saw quite a number earlier in the year and it is their progeny which are now appearing in our gardens.

Painted ladies aren't particularly spectacular when seen on a flower - the brightness of their colours can't compare, for example, with red admirals and peacocks, both of which are on the wing now - unless one has the chance to see....

....the underside of their wings, which are beautifully patterned.

They're of interest mainly because of the great migration they make, in very large numbers in some years, from places like Morocco northwards into the British Isles. This takes several generations since their lifespan is only two to four weeks.

It's a good time of year for them. They're on several flowers in our garden at the moment but their favourites are the buddleia - this colour in particular - and the verbena.

Seeing them here reminds us of a similar migration we saw in Canada back in May and June of this year - post here. Their painted ladies had come up from Mexico.