Monarch butterfly migration

Uncommon card · No. 159451

Monarch butterfly migration is the phenomenon, mainly throughout North America, where the monarch subspecies Danaus plexippus plexippus migrates each autumn to overwintering sites near the west coast of California or mountainous sites in central Mexico. Other populations from around the world perform minor migrations or none at all. This massive movement of butterflies has been recognized as "one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world". The North American monarchs begin their southern migration in September and October. Migratory monarchs originate in southern Canada and the northern United States. They then travel thousands of kilometers to overwintering sites in central Mexico. The butterflies arrive at their roosting sites in November. They remain in roosts atop volcanic mountains on oyamel fir trees (Abies religiosa) during the winter months and then begin their northern migration in March, back to North America and southern Canada. Two to three generations of monarchs...

Read on Wikipedia · Image MonarchWanderungKlein.gif: Harald Süpfle derivative work: B kimmel, CC BY-SA 3.0