Adults are known to feed from a variety of different nectar plants.
The genus Vanessa is Greek for butterfly. The origin of the specie cardui is currently unknown.
Painted Ladies can be found in almost every type of habitat but they seem to be most abundant in the open country side.
In the afternoon the males patrol for females. After mating the female will lay her eggs individually on the tops of the host plants leaves. When the eggs hatch the caterpillars construct an enclosure using the host plant and silk to use as a base for their feeding operations. The caterpillars will form their chrysalides on the host plant or on nearby plants or structures.
There are multiple generations each year and because of their large range it is possible to find adults year round.
Painted Ladies are known to take long migratory flight from their over wintering habitats. As is the case with many migratory species of butterflies the populations can have significant fluctuations from location to location.
