Painted Lady Butterfly caterpillars from Insect Lore survived their 6 days in shipment from California to Cincinnati by “so called” USPS Priority Mail 2-Day. They grew during shipping to about an inch long. The good news is the cup had all the food they needed and they can stay in the cup until the chrysalises form. The larvae were interesting to observe. The lifespan of a Painted Lady Butterfly is 2–4 weeks. Their scientific name is (Vanessa cardui), and the species undergoes complete metamorphosis. Painted lady butterflies are native almost everywhere and they can be released in warm weather.