Image Credit: Neva Swensen
Identification: Upper side is orange-brown with an orange bar at the leading edge of the forewing; hindwing with 3 or 4 blue sub-marginal spots. Underside with complex pattern; eyespots are obscured by other markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 inches (3/8 - 5.7 cm).
Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae) including tree mallow (Lavatera), globe mallow (Sphaeralcea), bush mallow (Malvastrum), mallow (Malva), alkali mallow (Sida), checkerbloom (Sidalcea), and hollyhock (Althea).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open places including weedy areas, gardens, roadsides, fields, foothills, chaparral, disturbed areas. Less common in Portland area.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-annabella