Most of them cross over the Rio Grande into Texas. There, the temperatures remain in the low 40’s (Fahrenheit), which is the ideal range for hibernation.Īs the temperatures warm in February to above 55 degrees and the days grow longer, these throngs of monarchs begin their migration north, traveling about 800 miles. Clustered in the branches of Oyamel fir trees, 200-600 million hibernating monarch butterflies ride out the winter months. It all begins in the mountains located about 50 kilometers from Mexico City. The Monarch Lifecycleĭuring the span of a year, four generations of monarchs are hatched and mature to fulfill their unique role in the epic migratory cycle of this delicate insect. There is still a lot we don’t know about monarch behavior, but I’m betting at least a few of the facts Dr. Organizations like Monarch Watch attract citizen scientists across the country and from all age groups to join in the effort to monitor the migration and population of these colorful creatures. The monarch is often one of the first butterflies we learn about at an early age, which may be why this species seems to hold its own beloved place in our collective appreciation of nature. Anurag Agrawal spent years collecting information for his book on the relationship between monarchs and milkweed.
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