The Cardinal Butterfly (Argynnis pandora) is an insect in the Nymphalidae family of butterflies.

The Cardinal Butterfly has brown forewings (front wings) with dark-black markings and bright-green marginated hindwings (back wings) with white irregular lines. Its body is buff-coloured and hairy. Its antennae are segmented.

It has a wingspan of 64-80 centimetres (26-31 inches). 

It is common through southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. It prefers deciduous forests and open pine forests. 

The adult butterfly is seen from April to September in the Northern Hemisphere.

The life cycle of the Cardinal Butterfly is egg, larva (caterpillar), chrysalis, and adult. The female has an ovipositor, which she uses to lay eggs on leaves. The eggs hatch after about 8-14 days into caterpillars that feed on leaves. The caterpillar forms a casing called a chrysalis. When the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis after about 14 days, it feeds on plant nectar with its proboscis (long curly nose). 

Location of photographs: Tbilisi, Georgia

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM