All The Snow This Winter Could Mean A Boon Of Butterflies In Spring
CHICAGO (CBS) -- This winter might have been tough on Chicagoans who had to shovel all that snow, but it's shaping up as good news for the butterfly population.
WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports the heavy snowfall this winter has protected insects that spend the season dormant underground.
"Just about anything that winters on or just under the ground – butterflies, beetles, all kinds of stuff," said Douglas Taron, biology curator at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Taron said thick snow cover helps in two ways – by insulating against extreme cold, and protecting them from predators.
As a result, Taron said, spring species of butterflies might flourish this year, "like red admirals and spring azures."
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