Vanessa cardui 

is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in

North America the cosmopolitan.
Male and female. Upperside. Ground-colour reddish-ochreous, basal areas olivescent-ochreous-brown; cilia black,
alternated with white, Forewing with an outwardly-oblique black irregular-shaped broken band crossing from middle
of the cell to the disc above the submedian vein; the apical area from end of cell and the exterior border also black;
before the apex is a short white outwardly-oblique streak and a curved row of four round spots, the second and third
being small; a marginal pale lunular line with its upper portion most defined and whitish. Hind-wing with a blackish
patch from the costal vein across end of cell, a partly confluent recurved discal band, a submarginal row of lunules,
and then a marginal row of somewhat scutiform spots; between the discal band and submarginal lunules is a row of
five round black spots, which in some examples show a pale and dark outer ring. Underside. Forewing brighter
reddish-ochreous, the apical area and outer margin much paler, the apex being olivescent ochreous-brown; discal
irregular band as above, subapical white streak, row of spots and marginal lunules distinct; base of wing and
interspace before end of cell white. Hindwing transversely-marbled with olivescent ochreous-brown and speckled
with black scales; crossed by basal and discal sinuous whitish or pale fascia and intersected by white veins; an outer-
discal row of five ocelli, the upper one smallest and usually imperfect, the second and fifth the largest, the fourth with
black centre speckled with blue and ringed with yellow, and the second and fifth also with an outer black ring;
submarginal lunules purpurescent-grey, bordered by a whitish fascia; outer margin ochreous. Body olivescent
ochreous-brown, abdomen with ochreous bands; palpi blackish above, white beneath; body beneath and legs
greyish-white; antennae black above, tip and beneath reddish.
Male and female. Upperside. Ground-colour reddish-ochreous, basal areas olivescent-ochreous-brown; cilia black,
alternated with white, Forewing with an outwardly-oblique black irregular-shaped broken band crossing from middle
of the cell to the disc above the submedian vein; the apical area from end of cell and the exterior border also black;
before the apex is a short white outwardly-oblique streak and a curved row of four round spots, the second and third
being small; a marginal pale lunular line with its upper portion most defined and whitish. Hind-wing with a blackish
patch from the costal vein across end of cell, a partly confluent recurved discal band, a submarginal row of lunules,
and then a marginal row of somewhat scutiform spots; between the discal band and submarginal lunules is a row of
five round black spots, which in some examples show a pale and dark outer ring. Underside. Forewing brighter
reddish-ochreous, the apical area and outer margin much paler, the apex being olivescent ochreous-brown; discal
irregular band as above, subapical white streak, row of spots and marginal lunules distinct; base of wing and
interspace before end of cell white. Hindwing transversely-marbled with olivescent ochreous-brown and speckled
with black scales; crossed by basal and discal sinuous whitish or pale fascia and intersected by white veins; an outer-
discal row of five ocelli, the upper one smallest and usually imperfect, the second and fifth the largest, the fourth with
black centre speckled with blue and ringed with yellow, and the second and fifth also with an outer black ring;
submarginal lunules purpurescent-grey, bordered by a whitish fascia; outer margin ochreous. Body olivescent
ochreous-brown, abdomen with ochreous bands; palpi blackish above, white beneath; body beneath and legs
greyish-white; antennae black above, tip and beneath reddish.