SPLAT! Moth-like butterflies on your windshield are back for annual migration

‘Snout nose’ butterflies return to South Texas

The annual migration of the American snout, or "snout nose butterfly," can create a mess on the hood of your car. (Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

SAN ANTONIO – It happens every year: millions of American snout butterflies -- known colloquially as “snout nose butterflies” -- migrate south through San Antonio.

And more than a few of the insects will end up splattered on your car's grill or windshield.

Named for its long nose, the snout nose butterfly is often confused for a moth due to it's grayish-brown camouflaged wings.

These butterflies usually make their way across the Interstate 35 corridor toward South Texas between early August and late September, hosting on hackberry.

However, the friendly fliers are not "calendar insects," meaning they don't follow regular migratory patterns.

As a result, we can't make any inferences about a cooler fall or a warmer winter from their behavior.

What we do know is that the bugs are back and the lines at the car wash may be a bit longer than usual.

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Sarah Spivey explains the 2018 American snout migration


About the Author:

Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017. Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News. When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.