North American Ecology (US and Canada)

Chlosyne lacinia is resident to the southwestern United States, and is migratory, to locals north as far as Minnesota (Scott 1986). Habitats are desert hills, pinyon or oak woodland and thorn forest. Host plants are mostly herbaceous and restricted to species in family Compositae). Eggs are laid on the host plant in clusters averaging 139 eggs per cluster. Individuals overwinter as third instar larve. There are multiple flights each year with the approximate flight time Mar. 31-Nov.30. (Scott 1986).