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Monarch butterflies are heading south: What to know and when they’ll pass over you
The insects travel thousands of miles to reach wintering sites, and scientists say habitat loss, pesticides and climate change have reduced populations.
- Millions of Monarchs travel south from Canada and the United States each fall to escape freezing temperatures, with some flying as far as 3,000 miles to reach winter homes in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico or along the California coast.
- Environmental cues trigger this remarkable migration, where no single butterfly completes the entire round trip; several generations complete the journey north before the late-summer generation returns south.
- Monarchs depend on milkweed for caterpillar development and nectar-producing flowers for food, clustering on Oyamel trees in tens of thousands to stay warm during winter.
- Populations have declined over several decades due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, though Monarchs remain unlisted under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that Monarchs may rely on Earth's magnetic field for navigation, while conservation organizations continue protecting vital breeding, feeding, and overwintering sites.
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26 Articles
26 Articles
Monarch butterflies are heading south: What to know and when they’ll pass over you
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies set off on a journey spanning thousands of miles—and several generations. Where do they go, and when might you spot them in your own backyard?
·Sacramento, United States
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