Vanessa cardui of the same species, he begins pursuit of her. If the foreign butterfly is a male, the original male will give chase, flying vertically for a few feet before returning to his perch. "V. cardui" establishes territories within areas sheltered by hedgerows. "Vanessa cardui" tend to inhabit sunny, brightly lit, open environments and are often attracted to open areas of flowers and clovers. Adults spend time in small depressions in the ground on overcast days. Larvae feed on Asteraceae species, including "Cirsium", "Carduus", "Centaurea", "Arctium", "Onopordum", "Helianthus", and "Artemisia". The painted lady uses over 300 recorded host plants according to
Vanessa indica orange-red on disc, and across cell proportionately of less extent, and uniform, not getting paler towards the apex of the cell; the upper four spots of the preapical transverse series on the black apical area minute. It is about 5 inches (13 cm) in length. Hindwing: the postdiscal transverse band much narrower and shorter, not extending below vein 1, margined inwardly by a series of broad black subcrescentic marks; the tornal angle with a small patch of violet scales bordered inwardly by a short black transverse line. Underside very much darker than in "V. cardui", the orange red on the