The larvae feed on various Asteraceae, such as the cudweeds (genus Gnaphalium), the pussytoes (Antennaria), and the everlastings (Anaphalis), which all belong to tribe Gnaphalieae.

[4] All stages of the life cycle can be found throughout temperate North America as well as Madeira and the Canary Islands.

The latter also has a purer orange background color of the dorsal side, as opposed to the darker and (especially in V. virginiensis) redder hue of the other two.

In the American painted lady, those on the opposite ends of the row are often larger and have blue "pupils".

The name "painted lady" was in use among James Petiver, Adam Buddle and other naturalists in England for the closely related Vanessa cardui.