The Painted Lady Butterfly

1
The Painted Lady Butterfly

• Mary Pellegriti
• mbp81_at_hotmail.com
• March 21, 2006

2
The Painted Lady Butterfly

• Its species scientific name is vanessa cardui
• It has a range that includes all of the
  continents except Australia and Antarctica

3
Interesting Facts

• The painted lady butterfly has a wing span of 2
  to 2.875 inches
• It has dark brown wings with pretty orange,
  yellow and white spots on them.
• Painted Lady Butterflies see more patterns, a
  wider range of color, and more shades of green
  than people do
• They have taste sensors on their legs

4
Life Cycle Stages

• Egg
• 3 5 days
• Adult female painted lady butterflies lay eggs on
  plants that they like to eat from
• The eggs are the size of a pin head

• Larva/Caterpillar
• 5 10 days
• Eats constantly and grows a lot
• Grows so quickly that it outgrows its skin
  changes skin 4 times before it is fully grown
• Stops growing when it is about 2 in. long

5
Life Cycle Stages

• Chrysalis/Pupa
• 7 10 days
• Caterpillar spins a silk pad to attach itself to,
  and hangs from this pad
• The caterpillars skin splits open revealing a
  shiny green case called the chrysalis
• Inside the chrysalis the caterpillar is becoming
  liquid and reforming itself into a butterfly

• Butterfly
• 2 weeks
• Its main goal is to produce and lay eggs so the
  cycle can begin again!

6
Time to Eat

• Painted lady butterflies like to eat nectar from
  plants that are 3 6 feet high
• The like to eat from the following plants
• Red clover
• Buttonbush
• Privet
• Milkweeds

Red Clover
7
Predators

• As eggs, the predators are bugs and there is no
  way of protection.
• As a caterpillar, ants, birds, and lizards are
  predators of the painted lady. The caterpillars
  defense against these predators is its short
  spine.
• As a chrysalis, the predators are birds and
  lizards and the chrysalis means of defense is
  shaking.
• As a butterfly, the painted lady has to watch out
  for birds, spiders, frogs, and lizards. It can
  defend itself with its good eyes and camouflage.

8
Conclusion

• Any questions?

9
References

• Enchanted Learning
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfl
  y/activities/printouts/paintedladylifecycle.shtml

• Amazing Insects
• http//www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1
  INSECTS/paintedlady.html

• Earths Birthday
• http//www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/ac
  tivitykit/2.html