Fast Facts
- The monarch butterfly has four distinct life cycles: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.
- The monarch butterfly is the only known butterfly species that makes a spring and fall migration like birds do.
- The eastern population of North America’s monarchs overwinters in the mountains of central Mexico. In Mexico, the monarch butterfly is called mariposa monarca.
- Monarch numbers are declining. You can help this special butterfly by planting pesticide-free milkweed and native nectar plants, and sharing your love and knowledge of monarch butterflies with friends and family to spread awareness!
The monarch butterfly is a migratory insect that is famous for its amazing journey every year. It flies between 2,000 to 3,000 miles from North America to central Mexico to stay warm during the winter. The butterflies travel together and use the sun to help them find their way. They can travel up to 50 miles a day! When they reach Mexico, they rest in large groups on trees until it gets warmer. In the spring, they start flying back north, stopping to lay eggs on milkweed plants along the way. The new butterflies that hatch from the eggs continue the long journey, making sure the butterflies come back every year. This extraordinary migration is one of the coolest things in nature and shows how strong and determined monarch butterflies are!
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