Painted Lady

Description:

AKA: Cosmopolitan, Thistle Butterfly Wingspan 5.1-7.3 cm. Life Cycle: Generally there are multiple generations per year, with fewer in the north than in the south (depending on length of warm season, and on when adults first arrive in an area each year). Does not overwinter in areas with severe freezing winters, may overwinter as pupae and perhaps larvae in mild winter regions, and flies year-round where freezing is rare and winters are sunny. Eggs are usually laid singly on leaves of host plants, and larvae produce nests by weaving leaves together or attaching edges of a rolled leaf. There may be several nests on a plant, but usually only one larva per nest. Development time varies, but can be as little as three weeks from egg to adult in favorable conditions.

Habitat:

Open areas, fields Range: Worldwide, except South America and Antarctica, irruptive--sometimes not present in a given locality for several years then abundant for one year. A rare stray in Australia, except represented there by very similar and closely related Vanessa kershawi, which is often considered to be just a subspecies of V. cardui. Season: Spring to Freezing in Autumn in most regions; year-round in mild winter climates in South and particularly in the Southwest. Migrates north in Spring and recolonizes areas where winters are too cold for it to survive year-round. Sometimes spring migrations are made up of spectacular numbers of individuals. Autumn movement back southward is more sporadic and not as obvious. Seems to overwinter mostly as pupae in areas where winters are too cold for adults to fly, but mild enough for survival. Food: Adults take nectar from a variety of flowers, especially Asteraceae. Caterpillars feed primarily on Asteraceae and Malvaceae, especially Thistles, Burdock, and Hollyhocks. Many other plants are used occasionally, including Nettle, Alfalfa, Soy Bean, Beet, Borage, Plantain, etc.

Notes:

Occurence is irregular in many regions, especially northward in parts of Eurasia and North America, and near North American Atlantic Coast. "Invasions" seem to usually be spaced at long intervals of several years in such places. *** Found this today on a nature walk along the Medina River. ***