Life Cycle of the
painted
lady
Ovum:
The small green oval shaped eggs mearuring c. 0.6 mm in height are laid
singly on the upper surfaces of
the leaves of the food plant, mainly thistle, in June and sometimes
again in September. Its colour changes
to a silvery-grey before hatching in c. 7
days.
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© DHardiman |
Larva:
The newly hatched larva moves from the upper to the underside of
the leaf and spins a silken web over
itself in which it feeds on the lower epidermis leaving the upper
intact as a cover. As the leaves are consumed
it goes on to form fresh webs. After the third
moult, it feeds on the entire leaf until fully
fed and
then pupates. This larval stage lasts c.25 days.
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© DHardiman 2001 |
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Thistle
DHardiman 2006 |
Pupa:
The larva spins a small compact web on the thistle leaf or stem
and attaches itself to it by its anal claspers.
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©
DHardiman 2001 |
Adult:
The adult emerges from pupation after c. 14 days.
The adults have a powerful gliding flight and migrants begin
to arrive in Ireland from June onwards.
They are commonest in August and early September when, in favourable
summers, the numbers may
be boosted by the locally bred individuals.
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© DHardiman 2003 |
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