I spotted this beautiful butterfly basking in the sun a few days after the winter solstice (~ June 22nd) here in Argentina. They are called Dama Pintada in Spanish, worldwide known as the Brazilian Lady :: Vanessa braziliensis which are members of the larger group of butterflies known as the Painted Ladies. These butterflies make cross-continental migrations each year, and unlike many butterflies are active in winter, for these reasons the painted ladies have become one of the most recognizable butterflies worldwide.
Fortunately for us butterfly lovers, Painted Ladies are common all over the world (except the arctic & antartic) and Brazilian Ladies are common throughout most of South America and maybe the Carribean too. Their hosts plants are many, like aster & malva (marshmallow) families and other plant families which each include various species. As spring quickly approaches I am planning to grow more plants they love to visit and need for their survival.
What beautiful butterflies are common in your back yard?
This year it's monarchs. There were years we scarcely saw any.
I am so glad to hear that you are seeing Monarch butterflies this year! sadly, Monarchs are having a really hard time due to habitat loss. Still, I have hope for them because so many people are planting their host plants!