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Millions of monarch butterflies begin annual spring migration north
Millions of monarch butterflies begin their multigenerational migration north, spanning up to 3,000 miles, but drought and habitat loss threaten their survival and population recovery.
- During March, April and May, millions of monarchs migrate north from Mexican overwintering grounds through Texas, the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast, some observers note declines in recent years.
- Monarchs migrate north to lay eggs on emerging milkweed, enabling successive generations to repopulate northern areas and support pollination across the United States.
- The spring migration is a multigenerational relay spanning up to 3,000 miles, with weather patterns like warm temperatures and late frosts influencing expansion speed and survival.
- By April and May successive generations depend on milkweed availability, but drought reduces nectar-producing flowers and weakens milkweed, lowering larval survival and adult fueling.
- Conservationists warn urban development and declining milkweed availability continue to threaten migration, while observers noting declines in recent years link this to worsening drought across the Southern United States.
16 Articles
16 Articles
abc10 Sacramento
Millions of monarch butterflies begin annual spring migration north
Millions of monarch butterflies begin annual spring migration north. Here's their path:
Flying along with monarch butterflies
Every year, monarch butterflies make their iconic migration across North America. The journey spans thousands of miles and three countries. However, very little is known about this migration, resulting in the lack of concrete data about a very important life stage of these butterflies. Scientists are now using lightweight radio tags to get insights into […]
This Tiny Tracker Monitors Monarch Migration
What the butterflies’ travels reveal about the environmental challenges they face.Interview by Steve Curwood, Living on EarthFrom our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by host Steve Curwood with Dan Fagin, a journalism professor at New York University.
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