Great Purple Hairstreak vs Painted Lady
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Purple Hairstreak | Painted Lady |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atlides halesus | Vanessa cardui |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 32-50 mm wingspan | 54-73 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southern United States from California to the Atlantic coast | Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Great Purple Hairstreak
The largest hairstreak in North America with brilliant iridescent blue upperside wings and a bright red-orange abdomen. Its underside is dark with metallic blue and red spots near the tails.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillars feed only on mistletoe, and females seek out this parasitic plant high in oak canopies to lay their eggs.
Painted Lady
The most widely distributed butterfly in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. Known for long-distance migrations across continents.
Did You Know?
Painted lady butterflies make the longest known insect migration — up to 15,000 km round-trip between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa across generations.