Vanessa cardui Vanessa cardui Vanessa cardui is a well-known colorful butterfly, known as the painted lady, or in North America as the cosmopolitan. "V. cardui" is one of the most widespread of all butterflies, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. In Australia, "V. cardui" has a limited range around Bunbury, Fremantle, and Rottnest Island. However, its close relative, the Australian painted lady ("V. kershawi", sometimes considered a subspecies) ranges over half the continent. Other closely related species are the American painted lady ("V. virginiensis") and the West Coast lady ("V. annabella"). "V. cardui" occurs in any temperate zone, including
Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis to name their unborn child "Nessie" after the local Scottish creature the Loch Ness Monster. Though humored, Julia did not agree but settled on Vanessa as a close substitute. Julia remained married to David until his death 22 years into their marriage when Vanessa was five years old. He died while exploring ruins in Egypt. Deciding to make a fresh start Julia took Vanessa to live in the U.S. where she eventually became the Dean for the Department of History and Geology at Harvard University. They currently live in the Beacon Hill section of Boston, Massachusetts. While at Harvard Julia