It's raining butterflies in S.A.

Web Posted: 07/20/2006 03:21 PM CDT
Anton Caputo
Express-News Staff Writer

If you've been thinking that the tiny winged critters meeting a messy demise on your windshield are a bit prettier than the usual fodder - you're not alone.

A combination of drought followed by the heavy rains a couple weeks ago has spawned an explosion of American Snout Butterflies across central and South Texas.

"I'd probably say in the millions across the multi-county area is a fairly safe ballpark," said Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Biologist Mike Quinn, who is getting reports of butterfly swarms from all over the region. The snouts started appearing en mass at least a week ago in locations from Eagle Pass to Hondo to Kerr County and San Antonio.

"This last weekend it was just amazing, I saw hundred and hundreds of them while I was out gardening and they were as high in the sky as we could see," said Robin Mowak, who lives north of Loop 1604.

Snout outbreaks are not uncommon, Quinn said, but one of this size is unusual. Its likely cause is a combination of the current drought and the heavy rains that hit the area in early July. The drought probably destroyed many of the parasitical flies that kill the butterfly in the caterpillar stage.


Robert McLeroy/Express-News
A snout-nosed butterfly sits on Lantana at the San Antonio Botanical Garden recently.

The ensuing rain then prompted new growth on the area's Spiny Hackberry, offering the perfect environment for nesting snouts and a good feeding ground for the caterpillars.

The snouts pose no danger to plants or people, except maybe motorists trying to drive through a swarm. It is likely they will be around for a couple more weeks, Quinn said.

For more about snouts see www.texasento.net/snout.htm


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[Jason R]

I seen them, literally a road thick brown with these things flying above it.

[shelden]

I'd love to see a swarm of butterflies. When we were out for our walk last night, my son had a black swallowtail land on him.

[ladyspur]

These butterflies are everywhere.

[pshows]

"I'd probably say in the millions across the multi-county area is a fairly safe ballpark," said Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Biologist Mike Quinn, who is getting reports of butterfly swarms from all over the region. The snouts started appearing en mass at least a week ago in locations from Eagle Pass to Hondo to Kerr County and San Antonio.


There's got to be a least a million on my block alone. It's pretty amazing. I've lived here 21 years and never seen anything like it.

I was walking to my apartment and I tried catching one... how i missed all of them is beyond me...

[Jason R]

They've got mad skillz yo.

[SAScrub]

Originally Posted by pshows

"I'd probably say in the millions across the multi-county area is a fairly safe ballpark,"

I'd say I've got about half of those on my windshield and the grill of my car.

[To be named later]

Dang, there are millions of them in the parking lot of the HEB in Lincoln Heights.

[PHANTOM21]

they taste like chicken

Originally Posted by PHANTOM21

they taste like chicken

[ladyspur]

Originally Posted by MomBear

Dayum woman, don't you ever sleep?

[cope]

At first, it was cool seeing them everywhere, but now they are getting annoying.

[ladyspur]

Originally Posted by cope

At first, it was cool seeing them everywhere, but now they are getting annoying.

I'm irked cause I can't catch one.

[curiousspirit]

At first, I thought that they were moths, until a couple actually landed for a nanosecond. Those suckers are everywhere. They are a nice change in scenery.

[ladyspur]

I find myself sneezing more whenever these butterflies are flying around me.

Originally Posted by ladyspur

I find myself sneezing more whenever these butterflies are flying around me.

are they going up your nose????

[ladyspur]

Originally Posted by MomBear

are they going up your nose????

One tried to.

But seriously, they must have some sort of residue they are leaving behind.