In cold climates, you can see Painted Ladies between March and October. In some southern deserts, they live all year round. The upper surface of Painted Lady Butterfly wings is mostly black, brown, and orange. There are also some white spots and red and blue markings. The underside of the wings are gray, with white and red markings.
Butterflies have three pair of legs - each divided into five parts.
At the end of the legs are tiny spurs that help them land and stay on plants or perches. Adult female butterflies lay their eggs on plants that Painted Lady caterpillars like to eat, like thistle. The eggs are the size of a pin head, each one containing a caterpillar beginning to grow. The hungry caterpillar uses its strong jaws to munch through leaves, eating constantly and growing quickly. As it eats, the caterpillar's skin gets tighter.