Swarms of butterflies are delighting residents and visitors alike, from Twentynine Palms to the Coachella Valley—and causing big yellow smears on car windshields. They’re the Painted Lady butterflies, on their migration north from Mexico. Managing editor Tami Roleff has more about these fluttering visitors…
The Painted Ladies butterflies are once again making their way through the Morongo Basin—not that many people will notice this year, seeing as how we’re all staying at home. Last year the butterflies—who look like miniature Monarchs—made their presence known by splattering their gooey yellow guts on car windshields. The Painted Lady butterflies are on their way to Oregon. Scientists believe that rainfall plays an important role in their life cycle, and this spring has seen lots of rain, which nourishes the plants the butterflies and their caterpillars feed on: thistles are their favorite food, but they also feed on asters, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, and milkweed. The butterflies can fly at 20 to 30 miles per hour, up to 100 miles in a day. They usually fly just 6 to 12 feet off the ground—perfect height for hitting your vehicle’s windshield.
