Story: Insects – overview

Painted lady

Painted lady

The painted lady butterfly (Vanessa kershawi) is a seasonal visitor to New Zealand from eastern Australia, arriving most years in spring. It lays its eggs on plants belonging to the daisy family. Although some of the butterflies have developed from eggs in New Zealand, the species does not manage to survive New Zealand’s winter.

This watercolour of the underside of a painted lady, about 1880, is by John Philemon Backhouse.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-054-031
Watercolour by John Philemon Backhouse

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

George Gibbs, 'Insects – overview - Long-distance travellers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/10049/painted-lady (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by George Gibbs, published 24 Sep 2007