LOOK
WHEN YOU
When You Look at the Monarch Butterfly, You See a Traveler.
A beautiful orange winged insect, the monarch butterfly is known for its extensive migration across the continent spanning over 3000 miles changing its location from the Southern reaches of Canada and the Midwestern United States to just South of Guadalajara, Mexico in the region of Michoacan. Beginning in September when the supply of nectar plants begins to decline, a new generation of monarchs will be hatched. This generation will be charged with undertaking the long journey South.
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agisamerica.org
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Monarch-Butterfly.org
Once at their destination in central and south Mexico, they will begin to habitate in nearby Oyamel Fir forests which provide an ideal microclimate for the wintering insects. From here, they will finally begin to rest and look for a suitable area to lay their eggs come spring. Every year, thousands of tourists will visit these habitats providing enough money for the local government and several environmentalist groups to continue conservation of the forests. After waiting out the winter, the next generation born in spring begins the long migration back up North, but the super generation is no longer, and it will take over 4 generations to complete the long journey back to their summer homes.
The migratory generation will be born with special characteristics. They will live longer than their sedentary counterparts. They will be born with longer wings designed to catch the wind currents they will use to glide to their destination. Responding to decreasing temperatures, this super generation’s reproductive organs will actually remain in an immature state keeping them from reproducing until they reach the overwintering sites forcing them to continue pushing south. Communicating together along the same route, these monarchs will travel alone during the day but cluster during nightfall creating large observable roosts(pictured below) to stay warm in the cold temperatures.
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journeynorth.org