Monarch Butterflies From Grandfather Mountain

Jesse Pope is a naturalist from Grandfather Mountain explained about the migration of the monarch butterfly form North Carolina.

The winter temperatures of North Carolina are to cold for the monarch butterfly, so they continue their migration to Mexico.

The monarch butterflies may start their migration form far away as Canada, or the northern parts of the United States.

This trip in total can be over 3000 miles. The lifespan of the monarch is so short, it takes several generations to complete the trip.

The first few generations will live in the forests of north America. The last generation usually born between mid-August and the end of September. It is fascinating because one generation live the longest and live for around 8 months.

This generation of butterflies will make the longest journey of thousands of miles where they will hibernate in the forests of Mexico for the winter.

Journey Of The Amazing Monarch

The monarch butterfly is the official insect of 7 U.S. states, and with good reason.

The journey of the monarch and their struggle is well appreciated, and so they recognized in a number of festivals held across North America.

The annual and glorious migration of monarch butterflies is one truly one of nature’s most attractive sights.

Millions of the butterflies to the sky and migrate annually from the as far north as Nova Scotia Canada to the forests of Mexico.

The amazing thing is they have never been to their destination and in spite of that they are able to navigate there.

The trip can be up to 3,000 miles and span the lifespan of up to four generations complete.

This migration is being threatened because the monarch numbers have been on the decline for the last 15 years, with the steepest decline coming in the last few years.

The number of monarchs covering the forests of Mexico in 2013 was ten times less the typical monarch butterfly coverage from 1994-2014 the was 6.39 hectares.