[pct-l] Painted Ladies on the Move

[jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net (Jeff Moorehead)]

Continuing with the general theme of how this year's high rainfall has
changed things:

Today in San Diego County there are millions of butterflies called Painted
Ladies that are trekking westward from the deserts further east. In years of
high rainfall, the small caterpillars experience greatly improved survival
and increased availability of nutritious vegetation compared to normal
years. The crowded conditions in the larval stage induce a migratory
behavior manifested in the adult butterfly stage. To hasten the migration,
there are strong Santa Ana winds blowing offshore owing to a high pressure
system further inland. The result is millions of butterflies dancing about
the county. There are 'waterfalls of butterflies' travelling down the desert
arroyos but they are dancing all about the chapparal as well-- even as far
west as the coastal areas. The migration is just starting. Unfortunately, it
will probably be well over by the kick off,  but the butterflies should
still be present in higher densities this year.