American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) are two beautiful butterflies that I have misidentified in the past, calling both Painted Lady. Two days ago, I went to a Monarch Waystation about a mile from the Barnegat Lighthouse to look for Monarch butterflies but instead found many American and Painted Lady butterflies flying around and dining on vivid Buddleia flowers.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation “The easiest way to tell them apart is the eyespots on the underside of the hindwing: American lady has 2 large ones, and Painted lady has 4 small ones.” Now looking at my photos, that distinction allows me to correctly give them their names.

There are other minor differences that also help distinguish these two butterflies apart, especially when they are seen from above when the spots are not visible. Unfortunately, I did not take many of those shots. To end this post, here are two images of two kinds of butterflies that are not so hard to identify. They were also feasting at the same waystation.

It was still early in the season for Monarch migration, so I hope to go back there in about two weeks to see many more Monarchs at the waystation.