
The annual painted lady butterfly migration is causing quite the stir in Southern California.

The beautiful insects make their way north each year in the Spring, in search of warmer weather.

'The painted lady migration is not rare but rather has been taking place for centuries,' President of Butterfly Rescue International, Lepidopterist Rick Mikula told Accuweather.

'In some years, the numbers aren’t as pronounced as they are this year.'

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The annual painted lady butterfly migration is causing quite the stir in Southern California, filling the skies with their beauty

The migration is California typically follows a north to northwest pattern, as the painted ladies travel from Southern California deserts to the Pacific Northwest.

Higher levels of desert rainfall has resulted in a larger number of North American painted lady butterflies migrating this season.

The North American butterflies lay their eggs in the desert.

'This year’s huge increase can be attributed to the California rains which help to increase the plant life in an otherwise sparse overwintering environment,' Mikula said.

The beautiful insects of North America make their way north each year in the Spring, in search of warmer weather

'The painted lady migration is not rare but rather has been taking place for centuries,' President of Butterfly Rescue International, Lepidopterist Rick Mikula told Accuweather

'In some years, the numbers aren’t as pronounced as they are this year,' Mikula said before explaining why this year is special

The migration is California typically follows a north to northwest pattern, as the painted ladies travel from Southern California deserts to the Pacific Northwest

Higher levels of desert rainfall has resulted in a larger number of North American painted lady butterflies migrating this year

Thriving plant life provided plenty of food for painted lady caterpillars, fueling their growth into butterflies.

'More host plants means more caterpillars that will eventually become more butterflies,' Mikula said.

'I have been fortunate to witness such massive migrations firsthand over the past few decades.'

The North American butterflies lay their eggs in the desert. 'This year’s huge increase can be attributed to the California rains which help to increase the plant life in an otherwise sparse overwintering environment,' Mikula said

Thriving plant lift provided plenty of food for painted lady caterpillars, fueling their growth into butterflies

'More host plants means more caterpillars that will eventually become more butterflies,' Mikula said

These beautiful creatures call every continent except Antarctica and South America home.

'The painted [lady butterfly] is also well renowned for its annual migration from the UK to Africa where tens of millions of individuals are actually tracked by radar,' Mikula said.

'On the reverse route they have been shown to fly from Africa as far north as the Arctic Circle.'

'I have been fortunate to witness such massive migrations firsthand over the past few decades,' Mikula said, talking about the painted lady butterflies

These beautiful creatures call every continent except Antarctica and South America home, pictured here in SoCal

'The painted [lady butterfly] is also well renowned for its annual migration from the UK to Africa where tens of millions of individuals are actually tracked by radar,' Mikula said

But they're not the only species of butterfly known to cause a scene during migration.

'I have also experienced massive migrations of snout butterflies in Texas where it was impossible to drive on the highways without using your windshield wipers,' Mikula said.

Those interested in providing sustenance for butterflies of all kinds, including the waning populatoin of Monarchs, are encouraged to plant milkweed.

'On the reverse route they have been shown to fly from Africa as far north as the Arctic Circle,' Mikula said

But painted lady butterflies are not the only species of butterfly known to cause a scene during migration

'I have also experienced massive migrations of snout butterflies in Texas where it was impossible to drive on the highways without using your windshield wipers,' Mikula said. Painted lady butterflies are shown in California