Is this a American Painted Lady?

By my surprise I found 4 of these cats eating away in my greenhouse on my Hellichrysum - White Licorica rooted cuttings.

Could she be American Painted Lady?

Thanks,
Donna

Yes that is what she is! Good for you, that's a great surprise! What type of plant is that? I don't think I've heard of that one...


Aggie

American Lady. Vanessa virginiensis are the ones I'm after and here you go and find'em in your greenhouse on accident. You lucky gal you!

Aggie, Donna's got some Licorice plants in her greenhouse and she had noticed a few of the leaves were curled with a "nest" binding them. Here's a link to her plant. Donna's a DG night owl, so I thought I'd jump in and help her out. Hummm I see you are too,or just an early bird. LOL
When Donna called me to tell me about it this morning or last night (whatever) they were on cuttings that they were about to eat completely up. She went and sat some shasta daisies beside them so they wouldn't starve. Flygirl, TexasPPrint, Becky, Deb, all y'all jump in and help us confirm this cause we were guessing again. LOL
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54990/

Deborah

Very cool that you are getting the American Lady oviposting (and you weren't even trying!!)

(I am still a little confused about the nomenclature 'american lady' vs 'american painted lady'.

For those who are interested in trying for American Ladies--

A link for seeds for licorice plant available from Parks--
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=0965

Pictures and more info on American Lady oviposting:

http://www.butterflygardeningandconservation.com/butterfly/bf/n/amlady.php

In the midwest some say this butterfly uses Gnaphalium, Antennaria and Anaphalis, too. I don't know what these are, though. Will have to check them out....

Here's a link to the other thread about host plants for the American Lady http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/846586/




This message was edited May 12, 2008 10:13 PM

Ooohh I just planted Antennaria, pussytoes! Maybe I'll get some of these butterflies too! Thank you for the links, Tab!

So, Cord, are your pussytoes a particular kind of pussytoes? (That question sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?) Did you grow them from seed?

And are they planted in your garden or around the edges of your property or in a woodland? Just wondering where to put them...

Mine is Antennaria plantaginfolia that I bought at a Master Gardener's plant expo from a native plant vendor (I'm not a mg by the way, lol).
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/85732/
I'll take a picture of my plant tomorrow. It lies on the ground sort of in a mat. Terrible description but that's what it reminds me of. The flower stems on mine don't stand straight up. Very soft and fuzzy little plant. I planted it at the edge of a path in one of my butterfly garden beds. I'm pushing the zone for it but hoping the shade of a pine tree close by will shelter it enough to think it's in zone 7.

Cord, Your pussytoes sounds very 'garden worthy' and not a bit like a weed.

When I checked your link I also found this long list of other pussy toes...some seem wilder than others, and I wonder if the RA likes any of these others, too.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Asteraceae/Antennaria/none/cultivar/0/

I particularly liked this one for a rock garden: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/177348/

I wonder if they will grow from seed....?

Tab, I like that one too, the Antennaria parvifolia from your last link. It's fuzzier than mine. Reminds me of Lamb's ear some. I'm sure it can be grown from seeds. I forgot to look on the pf link to see if any vendors were listed as having it for sell. Here's a picture of mine.

Donna, thank you for driving all that distance (75 miles one way) to bring me so many plants. I wasn't expecting you to give me your Hellichrysum plant. I took a closer look at the nest those cats made. Looks as if one may still be inside.

Does anyone know if the American Lady cats crawl off the host to form a crystalis?

Your antennaria is very nice, too, cord. I'll check for vendors on the pf link.

I've got to get some of these for my garden I think.

And find a place for a nice thistle patch. Is there such a thing?!?

t, I've got those all over my field, I wondered what they were cause they stand out from the grass, Illoquin was here and she pointed them out to me, that's a strange plant but then I've never seen it fully grown, it gets mowed down, it had it's little flowers when Suzy was here. Next time I guess I should leave them alone.

I just let my thistle come up where it wants to and my neighbors think I'm nuts lol I have two of those real thorny ones so far :)

Tab, you could plant some thistle in those woods/preserve next to your place for their nursery. No one would ever know you did it! Then they could come to your house for nectar and fruit bait. False nettle in a pot shouldn't look that bad should it? Sitting the pot in the back of a border of a butterfly garden wouldn't be too obvious there's a pot of weeds in there. .At least the false wouldn't sting.

I was looking at the butterfly of America site and saw that May Apple is a host but clicked off the site before I could take note of the bf. I'm so forgetful. Now I'm having a hard time finding the site again.

go back in your history and look for it :)

BINGO! duh! Thanks!

Variegated Fritillary is the butterfly that will use May Apple as a host. Thanks LeBug!

Your welcome glad it worked :)

So where do you buy seeds for False Nettle? Is that a regular garden plant or an out and out weed? I can plant some seeds around in the woods. I'm going to do some milkweeds like that too. Don't tell the ranger.

I suppose I could call a Wildflower Native seed supplier to get some seeds for specific butterflies in my area to plant in the woods. Let's see, what should I order. Little help here, please!?

Milkweeds
False Nettle
antennaria
Thistle (or is this considered illegal?)
Aristolachia serpenteria (seeds I planted last fall didn't 'take') Boo Hoo.
Paw paw
Sassafras

What else for "Wild" host plants?? Please help me on this!

You know we have that darned Japanese Honeysuckle all over the place here and I can see how it's choking out the native weeds/wildflowers. If I need sun for any of these (and I do) I'll have to go into the woods and get rid of the honeysuckle first!

Shady Oaks Butterfly Farm will send free seeds for the False Nettle host plant of the Red Admiral (and others)

Oh,, thank you, Cord.,

I know you mentioned Shady Oaks on another thread for a good source for False Nettle. Will send off a SASE to them!

Found an American Painted Lady cat on my Gallardia this morning and was wondering what it was. This has been a beautiful spring. Lots of butterflies and caterpillars. Love it.

Really? On gaillardia? I didn't know they would use that as a host, but I did know they used lots of different hosts. I have plenty of the stuff, too. Now I'll have to pay attention to see if I have any caterpillars. The butterflies, and bees, and other flying things love my blanket flowers. It would be nice if they provided a good caterpillar food, too.

Melanie