http://bspm.agsci.colostate.edu/files/2013/03/Painted-Lady.pdf
| bspm.agsci.colostate.edu the name "thistle caterpillar" is sometimes given Figures 4, 5. Painted lady larvae. An older larva is at the top a young one at the bottom. |
Since so many birders are noting the big crop of Painted Ladies, I thought referral to the excellent fact sheet by Whitney Cranshaw is in order. Like the note on Arthropods of Colorado website by Mike Weissmann that SeEtta mentioned, Whitney has communicated to the plant listserv the same story: the big influx of butterflies is locally produced, probably most of them being raised on thistles, although they feed on a lot of other common plants in our area. The initial cloud-seeding is by migratory individuals from the Southwest in spring, but then they either do OK up here or have a bumper crop like they did this year.
I'd be interested in any reports of birds eating painted ladies. My impression is they are not as sought after as some other common butterflies, say whites and sulfurs. Of course, monarchs are mostly avoided but not totally.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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