Painted lady (Cynthia cardui) butterfly

Sometimes common in northern Europe and over in Iceland as a migrant, but overwinter probably only in warmer regions. Flies in gardens, often visiting Buddleia flowers, and up 3,000 metres in the open country and woodland clearings. Occurs throughout the year in the tropics but has only two generations in the north. Almost worldwide in distribution but not known in South America. The caterpillar feeds alone in a web under leaves of Thistles (Carduus Cirsium), Nettles (Urtica) and other plants. It is mainly black and is covered with yellow or yellow black spines. The chrysalis is grey, often with shiny gold markings. It is usually suspended under a leaf.

Painted lady butterfly (Cynthia cardui)

Sometimes common in northern Europe and over in Iceland as a migrant, but overwinter probably only in warmer regions. Flies in gardens, often visiting Buddleia flowers, and up 3,000 metres in the open country and woodland clearings. Occurs throughout the year in the tropics but has only two generations in the north. Almost worldwide in distribution but not known in South America. The caterpillar feeds alone in a web under leaves of Thistles (Carduus Cirsium), Nettles (Urtica) and other plants. It is mainly black and is covered with yellow or yellow black spines. The chrysalis is grey, often with shiny gold markings. It is usually suspended under a leaf.

Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) butterfly resting on a nettle leaf-British nature

Sometimes common in northern Europe and over in Iceland as a migrant, but overwinter probably only in warmer regions. Flies in gardens, often visiting Buddleia flowers, and up 3,000 metres in the open country and woodland clearings. Occurs throughout the year in the tropics but has only two generations in the north. Almost worldwide in distribution but not known in South America. The caterpillar feeds alone in a web under leaves of Thistles (Carduus Cirsium), Nettles (Urtica) and other plants. It is mainly black and is covered with yellow or yellow black spines. The chrysalis is grey, often with shiny gold markings. It is usually suspended under a leaf.

Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) butterfly along the wash marsh nature reserve Lincolnshire.

Sometimes common in northern Europe and over in Iceland as a migrant, but overwinter probably only in warmer regions. Flies in gardens, often visiting Buddleia flowers, and up 3,000 metres in the open country and woodland clearings. Occurs throughout the year in the tropics but has only two generations in the north. Almost worldwide in distribution but not known in South America. The caterpillar feeds alone in a web under leaves of Thistles (Carduus Cirsium), Nettles (Urtica) and other plants. It is mainly black and is covered with yellow or yellow black spines. The chrysalis is grey, often with shiny gold markings. It is usually suspended under a leaf. I noted, just how strong a flyer this butterfly is, flying easily in 20 MPH winds. Roughly every 10 years the UK has a influx of these butterflies, last year, 2019 was one of those years.