Aside from general differences in distribution, V. annabella can be distinguished from the other two painted ladies of North America as follows: Most conspicuously, it lacks obvious ventral eyespots on the hindwings; there are two large ones on V. virginiensis and four small ones on V. cardui.

[1] The color pattern is the same on both males and females: “tawny orange with black markings, white subapical forewing spots, and blue pupilled hindwing ocelli.

[3] The West Coast Lady is a multiple brooded species, meaning that there are more than one set of offspring within a single breeding season.

[3] In Southern California, the common native hostplants include Urtica holosericea (Urticaceae), Sida species, Sphaeralcea ambigua (Malvaceae), and Sidalcea malvaeflora (Malvacae).

[1] During the afternoon, males are typically found congregating in areas such as hilltops, forest openings, glades, meadows, streamside slopes, and patches of dry earth which are particularly suitable for basking in the sun.

[1] At these areas, males spend a large amount of time and energy chasing each other and sometimes engaging in courtship and mating with females.