141. Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

WL: 30mm. V. cardui is one of the most cosmopolitan butterflies in the World, occurring in all the Zoogeographical Regions with the exception of the Neotropical. It is a strong migrator and is found in most of Africa. The highly polyphagous caterpillars feed on Urticaceae, Asteraceae and Malvaceae .

Studied material. Bafatá: Bangacia, no date, one specimen (FR) . Cacheu: Cacheu, 27.10.2009, 2♀ (FR). Caió, common (JB).

Previous references. Regions: Biombo, Bissau, Gabú, Oio, Quinara, Tombali. Authors: Bacelar (1948, 1949), Villiers (1949), Bivar-de-Sousa & Passos-de-Carvalho (1987), Larsen (2005), Bivar-de-Sousa et al. (2008b).

Probable abundance and proposed status. AB: NF; CS: LC.