The Migration of Monarchs

Did you know that Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer climates for the winter?


Monarchs can't survive the cold winters of the northern United States, so they fly south. They take their cues from nature as to when it's time to go.

                                 Once they arrive in their southern wintering places, lots of them will cluster on trees for warmth
Stuff you might not know about Monarchs:

• They are poisonous to eat, which protects them from predators such as frogs
• Their journeys may have them flying up to 3000 miles in search of warm weather
• They can fly about 12 to 25 miles in an hour
• Monarchs fly from Minnesota to Mexico
• They fly from other western states to southern California
• As caterpillars, they can eat an entire Milkweed plant in only five minutes
• Monarchs flap their wings slower than other butterflies
• There are conservation programs that actually tag butterflies and track where they go, their lifespan, and timing of migration

• The Monarch's scientific name is Danaus Plexippus
• Monarchs can also be found in Caribbean countries
• There will be four generations of butterflies born every year, but only the last one will survive and migrate

 Here's a map of the process: From Mexico and Southern California to the northern states, and back again:

Lots of great information about the Monarchs can be found here:  http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarchs

 

http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/monarch-butterflies-facts.html


A school in Cloquet, MN, studied and grew Monarchs, and then let them go. See the story here:  http://www.inforum.com/news/4345959-applying-science-life-students-release-monarch-butterflies-wild