Upper side of a painted lady butterfly is orange-brown with darker wing bases; forewing with black apex patch and white bar on leading edge; hind wing sub-marginal row of five small black spots sometimes has blue scales. Underside has a black, brown, and gray pattern with four small submarginal eyespots. Males perch and patrol for receptive females during the afternoon. In the West, males usually perch on shrubs on hilltops, while in the East males perch on bare ground in open areas. Females lay eggs singly on the tops of host plant leaves. Caterpillars live in silk nests and eat leaves. Adults hibernate only in the South and in mild winters.