The painted lady butterfly is really a group of butterflies that are found around the world.   A larger butterfly, they usually have orange wings with black spots and may have eyespots.   They have a lifespan of about 4 weeks.

From egg to little green caterpillar to bristly leaf-eater to pupa to chrysalis to adult takes about two weeks, then it has another two weeks to procreate before dying.  

Watch for painted ladies on thistle plants in August in the Interior.  An excellent site to learn more about these butterflies can be found at http://www.learnaboutpaintedladies.com