Monarch Butterfly Migration

Monarch butterfly is a speculative species, which you can identify from its wings, adorned with black and orange color pattern. It exhibits a specific behavior, which is quite unlikely for other butterflies and insects. Ever heard of the monarch butterfly migration for overwintering? Yes, it is true. It flies to other far off regions, sometimes thousands of miles to avoid cold freezing temperatures in its native area.

Monarch Butterfly: Identification

The monarch butterfly, scientifically represented as Danaus plexippus is the most popularly known butterfly species in North America and other countries. Its wings can spread to about 10 cm and the body weighs less than a gram. The males are slightly larger than the females and they possess a distinctive spot in the wings. Do not confuse monarch butterfly with the Viceroy butterfly. Even though both look almost similar with orange and black color pattern on the wings, the Viceroy butterfly has black stripes in the lower portion of the wings, which are absent in monarch butterflies.

Monarch Butterfly: Migration Facts

Commonly known as milkweed butterfly, the monarch butterfly lays its eggs in the milkweed plant. As the eggs hatch to larvae, they feed on the milkweed leaves for survival. You can refer to the monarch butterfly: life cycle and migration for a detailed information. As we all know, most insects tend to spend winter months by overwintering as larvae or pupa (at times adults). However, in case of monarch butterfly, it migrates in a specific manner like birds.

In general, monarch butterflies residing in the northern regions fly southward before the temperature turns cold and intolerable. Migration of monarch butterflies begin before the arrival of frost (prospective month, August). With the arrival of warm months in the North, they fly northward and spend the summer months there. The North migration of monarch butterflies is observed in the spring time.

The monarch butterfly of the eastern United States migrates to Mexico and along the coast of Texas for overwintering. As soon as spring arrives, it returns to the North for spending the remaining weeks. This pattern of monarch butterfly migration is followed repeatedly throughout their entire lifespan. Those thriving in the West side of rocky mountains will travel to the pacific grove and hibernate in eucalyptus trees.

Speaking more about monarch butterfly migration, a characteristic phenomenon worth mentioning is that the females deposit the eggs during their migratory trip. The eggs will hatch and overwinter as larvae in milkweed plants. Once, they mature into adults, they follow the same migration like the rest of the population. The distances traveled by some monarch butterflies are as long as 2,500-3,000 miles.

Besides intolerance to cold conditions, there is another reason for monarch butterfly migration. Scientists are of the opinion that it flies back to the North, where there is ample amounts of milkweed plants. During the migration season, you can see thousands of monarch butterflies gathering in groups. They cluster together in big trees to stay warm. Sometimes, the whole branches of the Oyamel tree are covered by monarch butterflies, thus resembling a weird structure. If you love watching butterflies in your garden, there is an easy way to attract them. And that is planting milkweed plants in your flower garden. They not only beautify your landscape, but they will make a visiting home for monarch butterflies.

So, this was all about the amazing facts about monarch butterfly migration. Due to short lifespan, about 3-4 generations are required for completion of one migratory cycle. Thermal factors and air currents help the monarchs to cover longer distance in their migration.