The Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is cosmopolitan and found on every continent where they migrate vast distances.
In South Africa 
They are rapid fliers and defend their areas.
It is a medium sized butterfly and its life cycle is about 3 weeks in length.
It lays a bright green oval egg and the caterpillar feed on a wide variety of vegetation including thistles, malva, nettles and sunflowers.
