Butterflies Fluttering By: Red Admirals "Irrupting'' All Over The Place
Hatchlings responsible for multitudes flying around
If you're seeing an inordinate amount of butterflies around today, you're right. There are, experts say.
They're Red Admiral butterflies, although they at first glance do look like their more well-known cousins, the Monarch butterfly. And if you're seeing multitudes, it's because it's a birthday party.
Todd Klein, a volunteer at the Cape May Bird Observatory, said this is around the time that Red Admirals are hatching. There is some migration taking place, too, Klein said.
"But what you're likely seeing are the hatchlings from last year,'' he said. "It has just gotten warm enough that the eggs are hatching.''
The observatory tracks the movement of Monarch butterflies over time. Klein said often the Red Admiral gets confused with the Monarch because the two are similarly colored.
The sudden influx of the butterflies is called an "irruption" -- a natural, cyclical population boom that causes an increase of butterflies every few years. And the unusually warm winter we had this year helped them to thrive, experts say. A boom of this size has not been seen in 12 years, according to butterfly watchers.
If you're overrun today like so many seem to be, don't forget to send in those pictures!
Alberta Conklin
3:32 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Seeing them near LBI! Love it!!
kathy covella
4:14 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Here in Brick too!
DBW
4:45 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
There are thousands between brick and Toms river, makes me happy.
Dorothy Smith Bishop
4:55 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
All over Lacey
Lisa T
5:02 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Our kids got to experience this beautiful site and catch a few of course we let them go what beautiful memories!!
RDinLacey
5:06 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Saw millions along Route 9 between Lacey and Pine Beach!! They are everywhere!!
Kathy Bottone
5:25 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
All over Point and they came with me as I drove down Herbertsville. Love them! They are in all my lilacs and irises. Beautiful!!!
Beach Girl
5:27 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
All over Lacey - so pretty!
Kathi zuppardo
5:38 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
They fly by so fast ! Where are they going ?
bill prudden
5:43 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
They so over my back.yard in Manasquan.
Erin Theriault
6:01 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
All over my deck and lilac trees in Oceanport! I love them!
Heather Messina
6:02 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Toms river is under a blanket of butterflies!
Donna L Stanley
6:03 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Tinton Falls has them too!!!
LAURA KERWIN
6:19 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
THE IMAGE OF THE ABOVE BUTTERFLY IS INCORRECT
IT IS A PEACOCK BUTTERFLY, INDIGENOUS TO EUROPE!!!!
HERE IS A LINK TO A REAL RED ADMIRAL:
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/butterflies/angelwings-tortoiseshells/red-admiral.html
stuffin
9:14 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Thanks, that is one I'm seeing.
Tammy Leshko Greiss
6:20 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Bayville has tons!!! Love it!!!
Jackie
6:30 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
this is so cool!!
Nicole Toussaint
7:59 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
I'm in Toms River and the kids are loving it!
Mr. ?
8:09 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Never ever saw so many! Driving east on 37 in Toms River at 6:00 p.m. had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road...actually a distraction , but so cool!
Phil Ashio
8:49 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
They looked real pretty splattered all over my windshield while driving on the parkway
Debra Strauss
9:44 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
There were many in my yard today wile I was mowing my lawn. they just kept coming and coming. They seemed to be traveling south. It was incredible.
Dana
9:45 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
It was the most beautiful site to see !!!
It feels like angels all around us :)
Laur
9:48 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
They're everywhere in Brick and Toms River
Tara Blessing
9:56 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
It was truly amazing here in T.R. what a beautiful experience.......smiles all around:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
William J Moss
10:33 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
They were all over my dogwood tree . Got a good close up look at them . Beautiful.
Melissa
11:28 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Saw so many today in bayville, very pretty.
Kathleen Walker
12:07 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Rich Saw many of them in my yard in Neptune City.
Linny
10:03 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Its so beautiful... nature at its best!!! Lacey was loaded with them on Friday and it was truly a sight to see.. I just loved it..
Larry Cataldo
10:54 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
BEATIFUL HAPPY BIRTHDAY RED ADMIRAL!
Mattie
1:30 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Love the video Lauren! :-)
Leener
1:49 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
This was a beautiful event. Thank you for posting.
Mary Mann
10:02 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
We are covered with butterflies in Maplewood! Glad to have them — and an explanation!