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Vanessa cardui · usninukas

Cynthia cardui EN · painted lady DE · Distelfalter LT · usninukas LV · dadžu raibenis PL · rusałka osetnik

It is one of the most widespread of all butterflies, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. It migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Europe in May and June, occasionally reaching Iceland, and from the Red Sea basin, via Israel and Cyprus, to Turkey in March and April. Larvae feed on Asteraceae species, including Cirsium, Carduus, Centaurea, Arctium, Onopordum, Helianthus, Artemisia, etc.