Monarch Butterfly Matting Grounds

Each fall north american monarchs travel from their summer breeding grounds to overwintering locations.

Monarch butterfly matting grounds.

1 male monarch abdomen 2 female monarch abdomen. Danaus plexippus ranges from north and south america and the caribbean to australia new zealand the oceanic islands of the pacific mauritius the canary islands of the atlantic and most recently western europe. And canada that are important nectar and host plants for monarchs as well as other native plants essential to their continued migration in north america where it has become an endangered phenomenon. In march the overwintering monarchs begin their journey north.

There are four main structures on the adult head. They sleep through the winter in butterfly trees in a state of sexually immaturity known as diapause then awaken in spring to move northward and deposit eggs of the next generation thus completing the circle of the monarch s life. The body of an adult butterfly is divided into the same major parts as the larva. They will spend the winter there clustered in trees until the temperature starts to allow them to go back to their mating grounds.

The annual monarch life cycle and migration begins at the monarchs overwintering grounds in mexico for the eastern population and the central to southern california coastal region for the western population. Introductions during the 19th century probably mostly as a result of transportation by humans have led to this species becoming established on several pacific islands as well as in australia indonesia the canary islands and spain. And canada and travel upwards of 3 000 miles to reach overwintering grounds in southwestern. These adults will live up to 9 months.

To recover populations of the 20 species of milkweeds in the u s. There is evidence of some interchange between the eastern and. East of the rocky mountains monarchs travel up to an astonishing 3 000 miles to central mexico whereas the shorter western migration is to the california coast. The monarch butterfly has an expansive range extending throughout much of the new world from southern canada south through the entire united states to central and south america.

Once migration begins monarchs become sexually mature and mate. 3 female monarch wings 4 male monarch wings. Eyes antennae palpi and proboscis. From egg to butterfly hatching as mentioned above.

Plexippus is a predominantly open country frost intolerant species whose range of breeding habitats is greatly dependent upon the presence of. So that brings us back to this atypical pair mating in the marshy meadow in september. Head thorax and abdomen. Around march the overwintering monarchs begin their journey north.