Wing span: 35–45 mm
Flight period: in one generation from May to August
Larval host plants: species from the genera Plantago (Plantago), Centaurea (Centaurea) and Veronica (Veronica)
The painted lady (Melitaea cinxia) has the ventral side of the hindwings strongly coloured. The pattern consists of bands of black-bordered pale yellow, orange and white spots and black dots. A characteristic feature is a row of black dots in the band of orange spots along the outer edge of the ventral side of the hindwings. The row of black dots is also in the band of orange spots along the outer edge on the upperside of the hindwings. The colouring of the upperside differs between sexes. Females have a pattern of dark brown and brownish yellow spots, the pattern on the wings of males consists of black and orange spots.
The painted lady is a medium-sized butterfly found in a variety of habitats. It lives on flowering grassy slopes, in forest clearings and in cultural landscapes, where cultivated areas interweave with meadows and hedgerows. It is the most common species of this genus in our country. It occurs from the sea to high mountains.
