[pct-l] Painted Ladies on the move

[eyakel at earthlink.net (Eric Yakel)]

Boy I know.  About 100 are decorating my truck.  E.Y.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Moorehead" <jeffmoorehead1@cox.net>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 9:16 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Painted Ladies on the move


> 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.
>
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