Painted lady

The painted lady (Vanessa cardui) only visits us in the summer. It migrates every year in several generations from North Africa in the direction of Europe.

Africa and back: the travel-loving painted lady

The painted lady (Vanessa cardui) frequently found in Switzerland is a pronounced migratory moth. It only visits us in the summer and in the autumn lets the wind take it over the Alps in the direction of the Mediterranean and North Africa. Not all of the moths manage this obstacle which is why many dead painted ladies are found along the Alpine ridges. In southern Europe and North Africa, the painted ladies form further generations during the winter months. Some of the spring generation then make their way again back in the direction of Europe. In warm summers, individual moths can reach Northern Europe; a huge feat for such a small insect. In Switzerland, the painted lady reproduces two to three generations from April onwards until in the cool temperatures of September and October, it is time “to head south” again.