Migration: Despite its paper thin wings, the monarch butterfly is a powerful flyer with uncanny endurance. It is best known for its annual migration through sometimes as far as 3,000 miles, North America to California and Mexico, Monarch butterflies that breed in the temperate parts of North America migrate so that their eggs and caterpillars won't be killed by prolonged winter frost. For this reason, the autumn monarch broods are more likely to migrate than those that rate hatched during the warm spring weather. 

The 5 million monarch butterflies from western North AMerica head for a small number of sites scattered along the coast of California. The 100 million butterflies from the eastern part of the country head south to Michoacan in central Mexico. During the last 200 years, the monarch butterfly has also succeeded in colonizing places as far away as Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand. These tropical monarch butterflies tend to be less mobile than their relatives in the temperate zones, seldom needing to travel far from their warm habitat.

Hibernation:  The crowded winter roots of the monarch butterfly are one of the natural wonders of the world. In Mexico, the roosting sites of the eastern monarch butterfly consist of a small area of pine forest. As many as 15 million orange and black butterflies cover the trees at one time. The temperature of the roost should be just above freezing. If it is too cold, the butterflies will die; if it is too warm, they will wake up and expend valuable energy.

Habits: The monarch butterfly is found throughout North and South America whenever the milkweed plant grows. The monarch larvae feed on various types of milkweed, which thrives in open species, as well as besides roads, along woodland edges, on empty lots, and in overgrazed pastures. Anywhere milkweed grows, monarchs thrive.

Breeding: In early spring monarch butterflies come out of hibernation and begin their migration north. Many stop to mate and lay their eggs on milkweed plants. The eggs hatch into caterpillars within a few days. After the caterpillars pupate and become butterflies a month later, they also join the northward flight. During the flight, the newly adult butterflies may also stop to breed. Up to five generations of monarch butterflies may migrate in one season. All monarch butterflies congregate at specifics winter roost in California and Mexico.

Key facts:
Characteristics:
Length: 1 in. (body)
Wingspan: 3 in
Wings: 2 pairs of flying wings
Mouth Parts: Sucking in adult

Breeding:
Eggs: Number variable
Hatching Time: 3 to 4 days
Development time of caterpillars: 3 to 4 weeks

Life Cycle:
Diet: Larvae feed on milkweed; adults feed on flower nectar.
Lifespan: 3 to 4 weeks in summer generations; 7 to 8 months in over wintered generations.

Related Species: The similar African monarch, Dananus chrysippus
Distribution: From Canada south to Argentina, Hawaii, Fiji, the Marquises, the Moluccas, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Azores.
Conservation: Widespread and numerous, but hibernating in huge numbers is so few sites makes it susceptible to habitat disturbance.

Special Adaptation: Monarch have striking black and white stripes and yellow spots. Their bold coloration serves as a warning to predators that they are unpleasant to eat. The caterpillars feed on milkweed, and their bodies absorb its poisons. These poisons can cause severe vomiting in almost any animal that eats either a monarch caterpillar or the adult butterfly.

Did you know: 
The longest recorded flight of a monarch butterfly is over 3,000 miles. While migrating, it can cover 80 miles a day.
The monarch butterfly is believed to have reached some of the islands it has colonized by hanging on to the rigging of ships.
The monarch makes its migratory flight at speeds of up to 11 miles per hour. It travels 16 to 17 feet above the ground.

Distinguishing Features of the Monarch: The monarch is an insect. It has six legs and a body divided into three segment: head, thorax, and abdomen. Butterflies, in common with most other insects, also have wings and feelers, called antennae. One of the best ways to tell a butterfly from a moth is to look at its feelers. Butterfly feelers are slender and have knobs on the end. Moth feelers are often feathery and do not have bulbs at the ends.

Unlike moths, butterflies rest with their wings together. For this reason, the monarch has its warning coloration on both sides of its wings. Butterfly wings are made up of tiny scales, arranged in overlapping rows.

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