Butterflies a part of fall
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It seems like the Mountain State is having a record fall as colors develop and linger due to steady, cool weather. While higher elevations have peaked, lower elevations are continuing to develop.
In fall and spring, we also have a selection of butterflies that grace our skies, some as they overwinter here as adults, others that migrate through the region. While we all know about how Monarch Butterflies make their great migration, with some now reaching Mexico, there is another great butterfly migration happening. It turns out, the Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui, is not only present on all continents except for Antarctica, but it has been shown to migrate 4,000-7,000 miles from Northern Europe to Africa with a similar migration in North America.
Other butterflies that you might encounter in fall include the Mourning Cloak, the Question Mark, and the Comma butterflies (all in family Nymphalidae). These butterflies are active now, prepping for overwintering as adults, as they will find refuge in leaf litter and crevices in trees for the winter.
Now is a special time to take in the colors and enjoy Appalachia. Get out there and find your beauty.