Therefore it migrates to warmer climates in winter. As they mature, the larvae develop noticeable spines, with a dark body mottled with white and orange markings. Unlike many butterflies, it does not become dormant during the winter and cannot survive heavy frosts or colder conditions. Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonising mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. This reinforces the idea that the painted lady butterfly does not discriminate host plants and chooses mainly on the availability of adult food sources even if it increases the mortality rate of the offspring. Debbie Hadley is a science educator with 25 years of experience who has written on science topics for over a decade. Favored nectar sources include thistle, aster, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, and joe-pye weed.

Vanessa cardui is an irruptive migrant, a species that occasionally migrates without regard to geography or season. The painted lady caterpillars are more difficult to identify, since their appearance changes with each instar. Painted ladies reach 5-6 centimeters in width, smaller than some other brush-footed butterflies like the monarchs. 30. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, 10 Fascinating Facts About the Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui), Identifying the Common Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), 10 Tips for Attracting Butterflies to Your Backyard, All About Braconid Wasps of the Family Braconidae, Perennials for Caterpillars in the Butterfly Garden. The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland. The orange and black Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is one of the most common butterfly species in the world. Painted lady butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis with four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Egg - Mint green, barrel-shaped eggs are laid singly on the leaves of host plants, and hatch in 3-5 days. Vanessa cardui lives on all continents except Australia and Antarctica and is the most widely distributed butterfly in the world. Host plants include thistle, mallows, hollyhock, legumes, others. As they mature, the larvae develop noticeable spines, with a dark body mottled with white and orange markings. Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonising mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. Nature Gift Store Painted Lady Caterpillar Food: Enough to Grow 50 Butterfly Larvae-Food ONLY - no Caterpillars Included. Ages: 4 years and up. being preferred in Britain and Ireland. Scotland (SC039268), Website design & development by Headscape, Wing Span Range (male to female): 50-56mm, Countries: England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Recorded throughout Britain and Ireland, but numbers vary greatly from year to year. The adult painted lady nectars on many plants, especially the composite flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. Its range includes all of the United States Mexico, and most of Canada. B.A., Political Science, Rutgers University. This common and widespread migrant likes dry open areas but can be seen anywhere in a good year. Painted ladies rarely migrate south. The small caterpillars hide in their silk nests.

The forewings have black tips marked with white spots; the hindwings have rows of black spots. The painted lady is sometimes called the cosmopolite or cosmopolitan because of this wide distribution. Larva - The caterpillar has five instars over 12-18 days. $7.95 shipping . ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Schoolchildren often recognize this butterfly, as raising these butterflies is a popular science activity in elementary classrooms. Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP It is similar to the American Lady which has two large eyespots on the hindwing below, whereas the Painted Lady has four eyespots. When the butterfly sits at rest with wings folded together, four small eyespots are noticeable on the hindwing.