American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 65,202 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Lady: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Lady
The American painted lady or American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is a butterfly found throughout North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Lady by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 15,275 | April | Mar–May |
| California | 6,388 | July | Apr–Oct |
| North Carolina | 3,346 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 3,182 | July | Apr–Oct |
| New York | 3,076 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Virginia | 3,076 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Maryland | 2,046 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 1,949 | May | Apr–Oct |
| New Jersey | 1,750 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Maine | 1,738 | August | Jul–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 1,616 | July | May–Oct |
| Illinois | 1,608 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 1,488 | April | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 1,380 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 1,337 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Arkansas | 1,324 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 1,238 | July | Apr–Sep |
| South Carolina | 1,140 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Ohio | 1,138 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | 1,130 | July | May–Aug |
| Minnesota | 1,061 | June | May–Jul |
| Arizona | 873 | September | Mar–Oct |
| Connecticut | 850 | August | Apr–Oct |
| Alabama | 774 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Missouri | 674 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | 645 | July | May–Sep |
| Tennessee | 644 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Oregon | 547 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Louisiana | 510 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Delaware | 412 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Mississippi | 388 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 367 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 352 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Indiana | 286 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | 286 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 266 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Kentucky | 203 | May | Apr–Aug |
| West Virginia | 168 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Nebraska | 155 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Iowa | 139 | June | Apr–Sep |
| Washington | 97 | September | Jul–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 87 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Hawaii | 62 | May | Jan–Sep |
| South Dakota | 38 | May | May–Sep |
| Nevada | 23 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Idaho | 20 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Utah | 17 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Wyoming | 17 | September | Aug–Sep |
| North Dakota | 9 | June | May–Jul |
| Montana | 6 | September | Sep–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Lady?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is American Lady most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, North Carolina.