Mexico
Monarch Butterfly
Meet the monarch butterfly! Every fall, millions of these orange and black butterflies fly all the way from the United States and Canada to spend winter in the forests of Mexico.
Why is it special?
Monarch butterflies make one of the longest migrations of any insect, flying up to 3,000 miles to reach Mexico.
Millions of them gather together in the same mountain forests every winter, covering the trees in orange and black.
How does it live?
Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed plants, which give them energy and later make them taste bad to predators.
After forming a chrysalis, a caterpillar transforms completely into a butterfly in about two weeks.
Amazing facts
No single butterfly makes the whole round trip — it takes several generations to complete the journey each year.
Monarchs can fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour when the wind helps them along.
Quick facts
- No single butterfly makes the whole round trip — it takes several generations to complete the journey each year.
- Monarchs can fly at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour when the wind helps them along.
- Millions of monarchs cluster together on oyamel fir trees in Mexico to stay warm during winter.
- A monarch butterfly weighs less than a paperclip, yet it can travel thousands of miles.