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Painted Lady Butterfly
Painted Lady Butterfly Coloration, Characteristics and Size
The orange and black Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is one of the most common butterfly species in the world.
Unlike many butterflies, it does not become dormant during the winter and cannot survive heavy frosts or colder conditions. Therefore it migrates to warmer climates in winter.
Its size is in the 2.0" - 2.5" range.
Distribution
The Painted Lady lives just about everywhere, especially meadows, parks, and gardens. Its range includes all of the United States Mexico, and most of Canada.
Identification of the Painted Lady Butterfly
It is similar to the American Lady which has two large eyespots on the hindwing below, whereas the Painted Lady has four eyespots. Need a way to remember this fact? "American" has four syllables, while "Painted" has two ... but the number of spots is opposite those numbers!
Nectar and Host Plants Used by the Painted Lady
Host plants include thistle, mallows, hollyhock, legumes, others.
The Painted Lady feeds on nectar from the flowers of thistles, red clover, asters, and many other plants.
Painted Lady Butterfly Life Cycle Stages and Times
| Stage | Typical Duration |
| Egg stage | 4 to 14 days |
| Caterpillar (larval) stage | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Chrysalis (pupal) stage | 7 to 14 days |
| Adult butterfly stage | 6 to 20 days |
Photos of the Painted Lady Butterfly
Painted Lady Butterfly |
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Painted Lady Butterfly |
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Photo by the Author |
Painted Lady Butterfly |
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Photo by the Author |
Pair of Painted Lady Butterflies on Zinnias |
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Photo by the Author |
Painted Lady Butterfly |
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| Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America  |
The Life Cycles of Butterflies |
Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths of North America  |
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Painted Lady Butterfly ... Caterpillar |
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