10-12-2020

Mountain and foothill shrubsteppe, sagebrush steppe, forest margins, open woodlands, meadows, forest roadsides, streamsides (Pyle 2002; James and Nunnallee 2011). Habitat in Montana not described but likely similar.  Females lay eggs in large clusters (50-200 eggs/cluster) on undersides of hostplant leaves. Eggs hatch in 8-17 days. L1-L3 instars gregarious, build messy silk nests, reach L3 instar in 21-40 days. L2-L3 instars overwinter, commence feeding in 2-13 days after termination of diapause, develop to L4 instar in 7-23 days, may reenter dormancy more than once, probably reach L6 or possibly L7 instar before adulthood (depending on environmental conditions). Post-diapause larval instars solitary, feed openly, wander prior to pupation, pupate about 20 days after terminating diapause. Adults eclose (emerge from pupae) 10-20 days later (Scott 1979; James and Nunnallee 2011). Males patrol throughout the day or perch on exposed vegetation in clearings, hilltops seeking females (Scott 1986; Pyle 2002; James and Nunnallee 2011).  From: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IILEPK4020.