If you take a walk outside in the Post Rock area, chances are you will see a painted lady butterfly fluttering around you.
Often confused with the Monarch butterfly, painted ladies have been invading our streets, lawns, and gardens. Painted lady butterflies are an intense reddish- orange color that varies from butterfly to butterfly. They have a somewhat pointed forewing that has distinctive white dots in the upper regions. Monarchs, on the other hand are a lighter orange color with a more recognizable black, orange, and white pattern on their wings. An easy way to tell if you are looking at a Monarch or painted lady is to determine the butterflies size. Painted ladies have a wingspan of about 2 to 2 ½ inches, monarchs are almost double the size with a wingspan of 3 to 4 inches.
Learn more at:
http://entomology.k-state.edu/doc/extension-newsletters/2017/KSInsectNewsletter%2025.pdf
By: Cassie Homan
