The head is orange and bears a pair of spines. These species are sometimes migratory. This is the largest butterfly family, with 73 species found in Texas including fritillaries, checker spots, crescents and others. Larvae and adults overwinter. Three to four generations are produced annually.
Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts.
Adults have siphoning mouths. Caterpillars eat leaves of broad-leaved weeds including gerardia, false loosestrife, monkey flower, plantain, snapdragon, stonecrop, toadflax and Verbenaceae. Butterflies are found in open areas where they make shots flights between stops where they rest on the ground, holding their wings out while basking. Adults frequent flowers and feed on nectar. See also Butterfly Gardening in Texas .