Florida – Imagine seeing clouds of thousands of monarch butterflies fluttering through the sky at one time. Sounds like a movie doesn’t it? Well, it happens not once, but twice a year. Monarch butterflies like certain species of bird, fly south for the winter.
Yes, you read that correctly. They migrate to Mexico every fall in October to hibernate. Why? It’s simple. They cannot survive the harsh winters in the northern United States and Canada.
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While most fly to Mexico, the ones that live in the western United States migrate to Pacific Grove, California. Those that reside in the New England states even head to Florida.
Check out the migration map below.
Eastern North American monarchs fly south and end up together in Texas where they continue to the journey to Mexico.
The event is so popular in the Rio Grande Valley, the McAllen International Airport has decorated part of the terminal with metal-like butterflies suspended from the ceiling.
The thought of such a delicate insect flying so far is quite remarkable. It is after all, the longest insect migration in the world!
How do they do it? Let’s just say this dainty insect has Mother Nature’s version of a GPS. Monarchs fly in a cone shape, passing over Texas on their way south. They use a combination of directional aids, such as the position of the sun and the Earth’s magnetic pull, to find their destination.
The bold orange and black nymphalids with bright white spots even have a favorite spot to vacation, much like people.
Every year they fly to the state of Michoacan to the Oyamel fir tree forests just west of Mexico City, just as generations before them have.
Arriving just in time for the Dia de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 1-2 representing the spirits of loved ones who have died, returning.
Monarchs are featured in Día de los Muertos decorations, art, and outfits, especially in Michoacán, Mexico. The bright orange color of the monarch’s wings is also found in the marigold flower which is displayed on graves and believed to help guide the spirits home.
Here, in the fir trees of the Oyamel forest, the monarchs roost in the fir trees up to two miles above sea level.
Sure, it gets a little cold, but the winter temperatures range between 32-59 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets colder the butterflies use their fat reserves and they cluster tightly together to stay alive and warm while conserving energy to fly home in March.
They even use the morning sunlight to warm their wings after the long, cold winter nights.
Unfortunately, this home is threatened by the illegal harvesting of the trees. Every year, this winter home for the monarch is less and less as more acres are chopped down.
In California, the monarchs find their safe haven in eucalyptus trees, Monetery pines, and the Monterey cypress.
The Florida-bound monarchs are found in milkweed plants. Florida even has it’s own population of monarchs that don’t migrate. They don’t need to because of the tropical climate and mild winters found in parts of Central and of course, South Florida.
Spring is nature’s indicator for these gorgeous insects to go home. This happens in March.
Sadly, these precious pollinators are on the endangered species list. The World Wildlife Foundation cites the deforestation of the wintering forests, disruptions in migration due to climate change, and the loss of native plants like milkweed as the main contributions.
So how can you help Get Results for the monarchs?
Plant a monarch reserve! Milkweed and other flowering plants like Lantanas, Black-eyed Susan, and Bluestars. Of course, these are just a few flowering plants that the monarchs love that will help their decline.
In addition to helping out the monarchs, enjoying the beautiful fluttering of their brightly colored wings is an added benefit to any yard.