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PAINTED LADY (Vanessa cardui)
BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES (family Nymphalidae) make up a very diverse group, inluding some of our most common and well-known butterfies.Now included within this family are several very distinct groups that were formerly treated as seperate fafilies. All are similar in having their front pair of legs strongly reduced and overed with hort bristles, hence the name "brush-footed". Since these front legs are seldom visible, these butterflies often look four-legged, but few generalizations are possible"Thistle Butterfly" This species it's alternate name, "Cosmopolite".Despite its inability to overwinter in any stage above a certain undetermined latitude, the Painted Lady is perhaps the most widespread butterfly in the world.