Butterfly Rampage in the AV

For Antelope Valley residents, visiting the poppy fields has become a staple of living as a valley desert rat. Crowds ranging from people across the world tend to make a stop to visit to the fields on their Spring trips to California.

The poppies superbly delve into the melancholic and beautiful aspects of the Valley. But among this is something unique to this ornate bloom.

This years poppy bloom has been one of the most expansive in years -- a “super bloom” has attracted billions of lady butterflies.

If you have stepped outside the last couple of weeks, swarms of butterflies surround the meadows and brushery of the valley.

According to Art Shapiro UC Davis professor in the Department of Biology-- "This is the biggest outbreak since 2005."

Lady butterfly migrate yearly throughout spring. Coming from the Southern parts of Mexico to lay their eggs. ‘

A common encounter for valley residents is having the windshields of their vehicles smuddred in butterfly remains. As masses of the butterfly trek along the roads-- constantly crashing into the fast moving vehicles.

This tends to be a result of the butterflies erratic nature of flight. Their wings and shape propels them to fly in an almost swinging motion. In nature this works to protect predators-- disorienting them with their unpredictable flight patterns.

Although the question for Valley residents is “why is there so many this year ?’’

This year in particular may be the result of previous abnormal rainfall and cold temperatures the last couple of months in fall and to some extent spring.

This set the conditions for more moisture to be fixed into the ground, making it extremely fertile

and thus far a hotspot for butterflies to feast and thrive.

While the Monarch butterfly appears similar to the ones thriving; it is not to be confused. The looming species is simply a “lady butterfly”, which has a similar aesthetic.

Conditions have not been proper for Monarch butterflies to make their appearance in abundance --as the ladies have.

The Antelope Valley continues to stun with its anomalies and its breathtaking beauty is only at its peak this time of the year.