Migration
The activities of the adult butterfly are just as fascinating as the Monarch’s metamorphosis. In the Eastern population, adult monarchs that emerge in spring and summer live between two and five weeks, and spend that time getting nectar from flowers, flying generally north and east, mating, and laying eggs. Typically, three generations of monarchs follow this pattern until late summer/early fall, when the fourth and final generation of butterflies complete their metamorphosis and fly off from their empty pupae. This generation of monarchs are the long-lived migratory generation, and their job is to fuel up for a 3000-mile flight all the way to Mexico to the Monarch’s overwintering grounds.
The migrating monarchs fly in masses to Mexico, and cluster by the millions on the branches of oyamel fir trees. These oyamel forests are protected sanctuaries, and are found in the mountains of the states of Michoacán and Mexico. The butterflies overwinter in the protection of these forests, then when the days become longer in the spring, the butterflies begin to mate and fly north looking for milkweed on which to lay their eggs. When the eggs are deposited, this generation’s work is done, and the butterflies will soon die, leaving their children and grandchildren to continue the northward migration until the next migratory generation emerges the following fall.
The migrating monarchs fly in masses to Mexico, and cluster by the millions on the branches of oyamel fir trees. These oyamel forests are protected sanctuaries, and are found in the mountains of the states of Michoacán and Mexico. The butterflies overwinter in the protection of these forests, then when the days become longer in the spring, the butterflies begin to mate and fly north looking for milkweed on which to lay their eggs. When the eggs are deposited, this generation’s work is done, and the butterflies will soon die, leaving their children and grandchildren to continue the northward migration until the next migratory generation emerges the following fall.