Facts about Migration of Monarch Butterflies
- 06
Monarch butterflies rely heavily on milkweed plants along their migratory route, as it is the only plant on which females will lay their eggs.
- 05
Overwintering monarch colonies in Mexico occupy such small geographic areas that a single storm or logging event can threaten a significant portion of the entire population.
- 04
Millions of monarchs cluster in dense roosts on tree branches each night during migration, conserving warmth and energy for the journey ahead.
- 03
During migration, monarch butterflies use a time-compensated sun compass, integrating light information from their antennae to navigate directionally.
- 02
The monarch butterfly migration is unique among insects because the return journey is completed by the great-grandchildren of the butterflies that originally flew south.
- 01
Eastern North American monarch butterflies travel up to 4,500 kilometers each autumn to overwinter in the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico.