Best time to travel to California

Painted Lady Butterfly Migration in California

The skies get filled with beautiful winged creatures

Best time: March

Painted Lady Butterfly Migration
Painted Lady butterflies in Running Springs, California

Every spring, swarms of orange butterflies take over Southern California. The annual migration of painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) usually peaks in mid-March. That's when they leave their winter residence in western Mexico and head to the Pacific Northwest for the summer to breed.

Butterflies are often spotted around Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Their largest congregations can be witnessed where wildflowers grow, like in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Coachella Valley, and in particular, Thousand Palms Preserve. Butterflies love nectar from desert plants such as thistles or mallows that are abundant there. The largest number of painted lady butterflies arrive in the years of desert super-blooms. A super-bloom usually follows a wet and rainy winter. In 2005, over a billion butterflies were registered in Southern California. Vanessa cardui is famous for its bright orange coloring and ability to cover long distances. It has been seen as far north as Alaska. The biggest hazard for painted ladies, as well as for other butterflies, is the heavy use of pesticides by farmers in fields and private gardens. Their population is also threatened by global warming.

Practical info

When is the best time to witness the Painted Lady Butterfly migration in California?

The painted lady butterfly migration is at its peak during mid-March when they move from their winter location in western Mexico to the Pacific Northwest. In years of desert super-bloom, the number of painted lady butterflies is even more prominent as they have enough nectar to breed. In 2005, over a billion butterflies migrated to Southern California. Show more

Where can I find the largest congregations of painted lady butterflies in California?

LA, San Diego, and Santa Barbara are some areas where you can spot the painted lady butterflies. However, the ideal place to spot them is in areas where wildflowers grow like at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Coachella Valley, and Thousand Palms Preserve. The Thousand Palms Preserve is popular due to the nectar-rich desert plants like thistles and mallows present there. Show more

How long do Painted Lady Butterflies stay in California during their migration?

The painted lady butterfly passes through California when they move between their winter location in western Mexico and the breeding grounds of the Pacific Northwest. Their stay in California is short as they have to continue their journey. However, in years of desert super-bloom, they tend to remain in California for longer periods since the conditions are favorable for breeding and laying eggs. Show more

What types of plants do the butterflies love to feed on during their migration?

The painted lady butterfly prefers the nectar of the thistles or mallows present in the desert regions of California. Other places they can be found are around wildflower blooms where they can feed on nectar from a range of diverse flowers such as asters, lilies, and clovers that are grown in farmers' fields to promote butterfly conservation and support their populations. Show more

Why are painted lady butterflies populations threatened besides the use of pesticides?

Climate change due to global warming can cause alterations in migratory behavior and breeding which can affect the painted lady butterfly population; consequently, their populations are declining. Drought, extreme temperature, and changes in vegetation patterns are the factors that affect their survival. Development, deforestation, and habitat fragmentation in open land also contribute to their decline. Conserving open spaces, reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides, and planting butterfly-friendly plants can help reduce these threats. Show more

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Last updated: by Olga Valchyshen