Monarch Butterfly Migration

Migration

A map of the Monarch butterfly's migrations. FTD

Unlike other butterflies the Monarch butterfly cannot survive the cold in the northern climates. They start the migration about October sooner if the weather turns cold sooner than that. The butterflies that fly on the west side of the Rocky Mountains will hibernate over the winter in and around Pacific Grove, California in eucalyptus trees. The Monarch butterflies that are on the East side of the Rocky Mountains will make the trip to Mexico and winter over in Oyamel fir trees. There are some Monarch butterflies in Florida that do not migrate. If there is a hard frost in Florida these butterflies will not survive. All of the migration Monarch butterflies will return the same tree that their previous generations hibernated on. What is odd about this is that the returning butterflies are not the same ones that left the tree the previous year.

Life Cycle

The Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly starting with eggs being laid, becouming a larva, larva becomes a chrysalis, the metamorphosis, and finally a new butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle

The life cycle is called complete metamorphosis. The steps in this cycle includes, egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

  1. The monarch lays hundred of eggs on the milkweed leaves.
  2. When the larva hatches all it does is eat and sleep until it is full grown as a larva. The butterfly larva are also called a caterpillar.
  3. When the larva is done growing it forms a chrysalis. This is when the larva starts transforming into a butterfly.
  4. The chrysalis changes into a pupa as the body of the larva metamorphosis into a butterfly. This process can take as long as a week.
  5. After the new butterfly emerges it takes a couple of hours to dry and get the blood circulating before it can fly.

Milkweed

A map of the Monarch butterfly's migrations. Monarch Butterfly Garden

The milkweed is crucial to the development of the Monarch larvae. The adult butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants. When the larva hatches it eats just the milkweed. The sap from the plant gives it the bright coloring and lets predators know that they toxic are bitter-tasting. The predators associate the color pattern on the larva learn to avoid them in the future.

Monarch Population in Increased

A chart that shows the Monarch butterfly poplation by year. Chart of Monarch butterfly population by Indybay

The Monarch population has increased this last year because of weather conditions. This follows a large decline in the Monarch butterflies that was so great that the United States government is getting involved in an effort to save them. The count at the 2014 winter over in Mexico was the lowest ever recored. There are a number of reasons for this decline. In Mexico as had droughts, wildfires, and illegal logging. In the United States the problem is from spraying crops, killing the milkweed plant, and other pollutions that are killing the butterflies and their food source. The decrease of butterflies is important not just because of being a beautify insect with a unique behavior, but they are one of natures pollinators and this can effect agriculture.

How to Help

A branch of monarch butterfly Swarm Of Butterflies on a Tree

Plant native milkweed in your yard, garden, farm. There are different sizes to choice from. If herbicides or pesticides are used try to keep the spray off the milkweed or neighboring flowers. Try to find natural ways to keep pest under control which is also better for pets and children.