American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
Last reviewed: May 2026
American Lady is known for its brown and orange wings with prominent eyespots.
Host plants
American Lady caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).
- Antennaria — see Alpine Pussytoes (same genus)
- Plantago — see Dotseed Plantain (same genus)
- Evax
- Pseudognaphalium — see Catfoot (same genus)
- Gnaphalium obtusifolium
- Plantain-leaf Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia)
- Louisiana Sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana)
Want American Lady in your yard? Open Plantain-leaf Pussytoes in Pollinator Patch and plan an HOA-friendly garden around it for your region.
Family
Nymphalidae
Wingspan
38–64 mm
Active
March through October
Range
TX, AR, AZ, CT and 44 more states
How to identify it
Look for distinctive eyespots on the underwings and a mottled brown and orange coloration when wings are closed.
Good to know
- The caterpillars create protective silk nests on their host plants
- They are known for their complex camouflage and defensive strategies
Common questions
- What do American Lady caterpillars eat?
- American Lady caterpillars feed on Antennaria, Plantago, Evax, Pseudognaphalium, Gnaphalium obtusifolium, Antennaria plantaginifolia, and Artemisia ludoviciana. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.
- Where do American Lady live?
- American Lady is found across TX, AR, AZ, CT and 44 more states.
- When are American Lady active?
- Adult American Lady are typically on the wing from March through October.
Range and life-history data compiled from iNaturalist, GBIF, and the Xerces Society. Photo licensed cc-by-nc.