The Painted Lady is an immigrant species which may arrive in great numbers in some years or not at all. 2009 was an extremely good year and they were seen all over Great Yeldham. An especially good spot was the high bank on the Ridgewell Road, opposite to Mann's Cross where they took nectar from the numerous thistles and knapweed plants. The fresh-looking individuals seen in late July onwards may well be from a brood produced by the earlier wave of new arrivals. The larval food plants include thistles and nettles. They are unable to survive the winter in this country, but adults present in the autumn emmigrate southwards, back to north Africa.