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Joshua Tree National Park
Painted Lady
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| Family |
Nymphaliae (Brush-footed) |
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| Genus & Species |
Vanessa cardui |
| Description |
upper side has tawny ground color, wing base is brown, oval white spot on forewing, black bar on forewing, hind wing has submarginal white spots; underwings have complex pattern; 2 to 2.5-inch wingspan |
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| Food |
thistles, mallow, yellow fiddleneck, sunflowers |
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| Life History |
multiple broods; egg pale green, barrel-shaped; laid singly. Caterpillar varies from chartreuse with black marbling to purplish with yellow back stripe |
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| Habitat |
parkwide |
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| Activity |
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| Conservation Status |
common |
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| Where to look |
Wilson Canyon, Jumbo Rocks, Indian Cove |
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| Notes |
The number of immigrants fluctuates greatly from one year to the next. Unlike the Monarch’s annual round-trip outings, the movements of the Painted Lady are essentially one-way. |
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Did You Know?
When cornered by a predator, a tarantula will rub its hind legs over its abdomen, brushing hairs into its enemy’s eyes.
more...
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Last Updated: August 02, 2006 at 12:27 EST |
