1 reply to this topic

[olivia]

All you amateur entomologists out there, what happened to our swallowtail butterflies and caterpillars this year?  There were butterflies earlier this spring but there presence was short-lived.  On any bike ride around Natoma, you couldn't help running over the caterpillars by the dozens.  This year they have both already disappeared.  I am usually able to take my daughter out to look for either but today we returned home, totally skunked.  Anyone else notice their early exit this year?

 

 I know, I know, it's because of global warming.....not.  But it does seem unusual.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Well, the pipevine swallowtail can only live and breed near the pipevine plant that grows along the river. I mean Lake Natoma.... The introduction of the bike trail was a major impact on their habitat and your message explained one impact. Bikes killed a big percentage of the caterpillars. The trail itself took out a lot of plants too. They were still around this year, but the lack of water also reduced the growth of the pipeline. Also the spraying along the bike trail doesn't help either. Whenever I see people happily buying butterfly nets and heading down to the park I cringe.