Painted Lady Butterfly in Borrego Springs

I'm not a butterfly watcher, but that doesn't mean I won't try to get a photo if I encounter one. I always try to identify all living things when I encounter them. This is a Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, a widespread species around the world.

Painted Lady Butterfly Anza-Borrego Desert, California. February 18, 2019.

This butterfly became quite abundant in early March in the San Diego region. Many people commented on the hundreds of small butterflies--especially in the hills along the I-15 freeway, where the California Poppies were blooming.

Mid-month, when Marlene and I went to see all the wildflowers in the Anza-Borrego Desert they were unavoidable. Literally. We couldn't drive anywhere without a thwack! on the windshield and a yellow-green streak. "Oops. Sorry!" Thwack! "Oh, there's another one--sorry!" (I'm pretty sure they didn't accept our apologies.)

Even after going through the car wash and a couple of rainy days, the ghosts of butterflies past are still imbedded in the windshield.