Painted Lady Butterfly

Natural Habitat

Painted Lady butterflies are highly adaptable and can be found in a wide range of open habitats, including meadows, fields, gardens, and along roadsides. They are one of the most widespread butterfly species globally.

Diet & Feeding

Adult Painted Lady butterflies feed on nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, especially thistle, aster, and cosmos. Caterpillars feed on leaves of host plants, including thistles, mallows, legumes, and many other herbaceous plants.

Behavior Patterns

Painted ladies are known for their strong migratory patterns, undertaking long-distance flights. They are diurnal, active during the day, and are often seen nectaring on various flowers. The caterpillars construct leafy shelters by rolling or silking leaves together.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: Painted Lady butterflies are important pollinators, helping to fertilize many plant species. Their caterpillars can be minor pests on certain agricultural crops, but generally, their impact is limited and outweighed by their ecological benefits.

Identified on: 6/23/2025