Painted Lady butterfly

[rescuer]

Someone said recently that painted Lady butterflies fly to Africa.
I find this hard to believe. I was under the impression that butterflies live only a few days.
Does anyone know anything about this?

[burnhal]

generally speaking most butterflies are short lived in the adult stage- two to six weeks being avarage. Some of the same species live longer in order to migrate- monarchs for instance- some do the 2000 miles, some of them do it over the course of three generations- and we are talking generations four or five weeks apart. The first three generations live 2-6 weeks- the fourth lives for 6 or seven months- fascinating- read this http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/
Some of our British butterflies have varying lifespans- the last generation of the year of the orange tip for instance will live long enough for it to hibernate-emerge the next spring, mate and lay eggs before dying.

[YvonneM]

http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Britain%2 0-%20Vanessa%20cardui.htm

[rescuer]

Thanks burnhal and YvonneM for quick replies. Both answers very interesting.
--- and I have learned something new!