Start of Spring brings more butterflies & bugs

With Spring just right around the corner, butterflies and bugs can be seen all over the Coachella Valley.

“A bug-pocalypse we’re hoping for,” said Dr. James Danoff-Burg, director of conservation at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens.

Danoff-Burg is an insect expert. He says this year’s conditions could be monumental in bringing up declining insect populations.

“We’ve had so much moisture for such a long period of time! its gonna be a banner year for insects for certain,” Danoff-Burg said.

The Coachella Valley could be seeing moths, butterflies, and bees.

“There’s been some studies that were done recently that said that insect populations have decreased somewhere around the order of 70 percent relative to what they were 40 years ago. So, when we have big years like this when there’s quite a lot of resources available to them, their populations can explode tremendously,” Danoff-Burg said.

Insects are the only thing the valley will see more of. The weather is set to bring a beautiful bloom throughout the valley.

“With the warm weather we are getting in this week, things are gonna explode. Flowers are gonna be popping everywhere,”

Watch: What to know before heading out to see the Superbloom

White-lined sphinx moths could make a colossal comeback similar to the one two years ago.

“I’ve been here 32 years. I’ve never seen anything like that before. It was just incredible so, with a great year like this there’s a lot blooming so we’re just waiting to see what happens,” said Kirk Anderson, curator of gardens at the Living Desert.

Unfortunately, all the water this winter has brought could also mean more mosquitoes as well.

“In areas where there may be lots of standing water around like golf courses and such because it’s been so moist because its been relatively cool. The things that would normally kill the mosquito population or decrease the population have not been there,” Anderson said.

Anderson says insects that may be considered a nuisance to some are actually critical critters in our environment.

“Most everything all the fruits and vegetables come from insect pollination activities. So, insects are essential for survival, not just for the ecosystem but for us,” Anderson said.

If you get any pictures or videos of butterflies flying around, send them to SHARE@KESQ.COM.