MEET THE PAINTED LADY
Don’t let the delicate wings fool you — the Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui), affectionately known in Afrikaans as a Sondagsrokkie, is one of the earth’s toughest and most well-travelled insects. With salmon-orange, black and white patterned wings, this butterfly regularly visits gardens, fynbos and coastlines across South Africa — and beyond. While it may seem like a casual garden guest, it’s also part of a long-distance migratory relay spanning thousands of kilometres and the most widespread butterfly in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America.
5 Fun Facts about the Painted Lady Butterfly
- World Traveller: The Painted Lady migrates up to 14 500 km annually — from Africa to the Arctic Circle — in a multi-generational relay.
- Always Dressed for a Sunday: Affectionately known as the Sondagsrokkie (Sunday dress) in Afrikaans, this butterfly gets its name from its striking wing patterns — as if it’s always dressed in its Sunday best.
- Year-Round Sighting: This butterfly can be seen almost any month in South Africa, but numbers peak from March to July and August to October.
- Not Fussy: Painted Ladies feed on nectar from thistles, buddleia, heather, ivy and garden favourites like lavender.
- Super Speedy Growth: Caterpillars hatch in just a week and spin silk shelters under leaves to feed and grow in safety.
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