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Adult Painted Lady butterfly.
Painted Ladies have the largest range of all butterfly species, being found in all of the US and Canada
and many other parts of the world. They spend their winters in southern US and migrate north
to northern states in the summer.
Host plants are many and include thistle,
Borage (Borago officinalis),
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea),
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium),
Malva (Malva sylvestris),
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata).
In my garden they seem to prefer
Borage (Borago officinalis), but my
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea),
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and
Malva (Malva sylvestris) have yet to grow as well as they should.
I haven't seen any signs of them on Sunflowers or Plantain.
Adults feed on flower nectar.
Painted Lady Life Cycle
Eggs are light green and laid singly on host plant leaves. Caterpillars make
nests in the leaves with their silk.
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Middle instar caterpillars, probably 3rd or 4th instar.
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Late instar caterpillars.
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Late instar, same as on right, but close up.
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Late instar, making nest in borage.
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5th instar curling up and 'playing dead'.
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When Painted Ladies are ready to pupate they hand upside down from an appropriate place.
Then they molt once last time to form a chrysalis.
Caterpillar hanging upside down, ready to pupate.
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Front/side of chrysalis.
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Back of chrysalis.
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More pictures:
Adult, wings closed, nectaring on
Lantana.
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Adult, wings open, nectaring on
Lantana.
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