One extremely common species of butterfly known as the American Lady does, as the common name implies, occur throughout America.
The common names taxonomists have assigned to some animals can be quite confusing. For example, when someone hears the name American Toad, one might assume that the amphibian occurs throughout America. Yet, the toad can only be observed in the eastern half of the United States. Another example is the American Dipper. One might assume that this particular bird occurs throughout the United States, but it can only be observed in isolated pockets in the western U.S.
However, one extremely common species of butterfly known as the American Lady does, as the common name implies, occur throughout America.
The American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is an aptly named butterfly whose natural range encompasses the entire continent, obviously including the entirety of Texas. It is one of four species of "ladies" to call Texas home, and it is arguably the most familiar. It appears to covet open habitats, although it can also be observed in semi-open scrub areas as well.
This medium-sized butterfly (wingspan of 2 inches) is like many other butterflies in that the above wings and below wings look entirely different from one another. On the American Lady, the above forewing is typically orange that fades to a brownish coloration closer to the body. There is a diagnostic white dot close to the rim of the wing, and the end of the wing is black with numerous white spots. The above hind wing is colored the same and has a row of black-bordered blue spots that are smudged together.
As an adult, this type of butterfly feeds on a variety of nectars, favoring thistles. It utilizes an appendage known as a proboscis to feed on these items. The proboscis is long and almost threadlike, and in times of non-use is curled up under the head of the butterfly.
The American Lady, like other butterfly species, undergoes a four-stage life cycle that can be described as nothing short of miraculous. Their life begins as an egg, which hatches after a few short days into the next stage. Upon hatching, the larvae are known as caterpillars, and at this stage, the growth rate is highly accelerated. Caterpillars can eat twice their body weight in a single day and, as such, grow quickly. American Lady caterpillars feed primarily on flowers in the Aster family.
As they grow, they literally grow out of their skins, and they shed their outer layer of skin up to five times (known as molting) before they enter the next stage of their life cycle. After the caterpillar finds a spot in which it feels is secure, it will pupate as it forms a protective shell known as a chrysalis. Inside of this shell, the larva changes into a butterfly. After about a week, the adult will emerge from this shell with its wings intact, although they are crumpled into small balls on the sides of the body. The butterfly will then pump a clear fluid into the veins of its wings, causing them to expand much the same way a stick can reinforce a kite.
The American Lady tends to be the least resistant to colder temperatures compared to the other members of this genus, although many can still be seen flying during warmer days of the winter months.