Monarch butterflies during migration. Monarch Butterfly

Butterflies have always attracted people with their bright colors. Currently, 200 thousand species of these insects are known. Among them, the monarch butterfly is especially famous.

Monarch butterfly (lat. Danaus plexippus) is a species of butterfly from the family Nymphalidae. One of the most famous butterflies in North America.

The Monarch Danaid is easily recognized by its characteristic pattern on its wings: black stripes on a rufous background. Along the edge of the wings there is a wide black border with white spots. The wingspan is 8.9-10.2 cm, weighs only 0.5 g.

The monarch caterpillar eats cottonweed leaves, which contain toxins and are its main food. It is thanks to them that in the future it turns out that the monarch butterfly is poisonous and is avoided as food by birds and other animals whose diet includes insects.

origin of name

The common name “monarch” was first used in 1874 by the American entomologist Samuel Scudder: “this butterfly is one of the largest, and rules over vast areas.” According to other sources, the name may have been given in honor of William III of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands and King of England and Scotland.

The name of the genus Danaus probably comes from the names of characters in ancient Greek mythology: Danaë (the son of the Egyptian king) or his great-great-granddaughter Danaë.

Migration

Each fall, millions of these butterflies migrate south to California and Mexico from Canada for the winter, and return north to Canada in the summer. This is the only butterfly that regularly migrates from north to south, as birds do. But the most amazing thing is that not a single butterfly makes the entire journey. This happens because the life of a butterfly is short, and during the entire period of migration there are 3 to 4 generations of butterflies. Monarch butterflies are also one of the few insects that can cross the Atlantic. Before migrating, they gather in huge colonies on coniferous trees, and stick around them so that the trees turn orange and the branches sag under their weight. This amazing sight attracts many tourists.

The monarch migration usually begins in October each year, but can begin earlier if the weather turns cold. They travel a distance of 1,200 to 2,800 km, from Canada to the central Mexican forests, where the climate is warm. If the monarch lives in the eastern states, typically east of the Rocky Mountains, it will migrate to Mexico and winter in coniferous trees. If it lives west of the Rocky Mountains, it will winter in the Pacific Grove area of California, in eucalyptus trees. It is surprising that the butterflies use the same trees for the winter every year, because they do not represent the same generation of butterflies that were there the previous year. How the butterflies were able to return to the same wintering places, with a gap of several generations, still remains a mystery to scientists. It is assumed that flight patterns are inherited. Some studies show that butterflies use the position of the sun in the sky and the Earth's magnetic field for orientation.

Why do monarch butterfly migrations occur?

It is believed that this type of insect appeared in the equatorial zone, located in the center of the American continent. It was initially based on sedentary populations of butterflies. After the end of the Ice Age and the increase in the number of individuals, the species' range began to expand towards the northern regions of America. But climatic conditions These areas were not suitable for wintering for heat-loving butterflies, so the butterflies living there were forced to make long flights. For this purpose, a new life cycle was formed in the process of evolution. There is another point of view, according to which migrant individuals of the American subtropics settled in the tropics and in the equator region, and then spread throughout the planet.

For years, people have been puzzled as to where the millions of monarchs that spend their summers in Canada disappear to winter period. It was not until 1937 that Canadian zoologist F. Urquhart began tracking the movements of butterflies, marking the wings of thousands of individuals. 38 years later, with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country, the scientist located the first wintering refuge of butterflies on the top of Mount Michoacan in Mexico, several thousand kilometers from starting point their migrations. The site is now a World Heritage Site and is known as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. There are dozens of such sites in Mexico, and they are protected by the Mexican government as ecological reserves.

Scientists have found that the reproduction of these insects requires the presence of special types of trees. That is why deforestation is prohibited in the biosphere reserve. The uniqueness of this conservation area was recognized by UNESCO, which included it among the Natural Heritage of Humanity.

Unfortunately, monarch wintering colonies are under threat due to widespread deforestation. Over the past few years, the number of monarch butterflies that have completed their migration in the Mexican forest has fallen to its lowest level in two decades. This was mainly due to extreme weather conditions and rapid expansion of agricultural land. According to the colony's annual census conducted in December 2012, the area of forest occupied by butterflies has decreased from 50 hectares to 2.94 hectares.

Monarch Butterfly Migration(Danaus plexippus) is one of the most beautiful sights on the planet. Thousands of bright orange moths in a single impulse can cover an impressive distance, flying from Canada to Mexico and back. This unusual natural phenomenon attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

If only the lazy have not heard of birds, then mass migrations of butterflies are a phenomenon that is worth talking about in more detail. Perhaps one of the most interesting facts about the migration of butterflies is that during the migration three or four generations of insects are replaced. Despite this, a colony of Monarch butterflies is able to cross the Atlantic, and few can boast of such achievements.

The migration of butterflies begins in October, usually the colony is from 1200 to 2800 individuals. Despite the fact that different generations of butterflies always fly, they manage to choose the same trees for stopping every year. American and Mexican ecologists are making every effort to protect the insect population during migration (a special biosphere reserve has been created). Despite all the efforts of the “greens”, butterflies cannot escape the threat of extinction, the main reason being the massive cutting down of trees. Butterfly numbers have dropped sharply this year, with the lowest numbers recorded in two decades. It would be scary to lose these orange-red beauties, so scientists in Mexico are now looking for ways to revive the population.

By the way, butterfly colonies have more than once inspired artists to create thematic installations, which we told readers of the Kulturologiya.ru website about. For example, the American artist

Thanks to your migrations. Although no single butterfly has ever completed the entire 3,200-kilometer journey, several generations collectively cover that distance per year. True to the saying, “Alone makes no man,” millions of monarch butterflies gather together in one of the most impressive spectacles in nature...
(25 photos)

Charming nature...

In North America, these butterflies begin their grand annual journey in August. Monarchs "refuel" with nectar in the northern American states and Canada, after which it is time to hit the road, as the coming winter will inevitably lead to their death from the cold

Unlike their ancestors, these butterflies have not yet flown more than a few hundred meters in their lives, however, they do not hesitate to take flight over the wide northern lakes. This is just the first stage of one of the largest migrations in the world.

Soon, individuals flying from all over North America unite with each other. Butterflies from areas east of the Rocky Mountains head to Mexico, while butterflies from the west head to California, especially to the coniferous forests near Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove. This is where the incredible spectacle takes place.

When the butterflies arrive at their destination, a lucky few people get to see countless monarchs hanging from every branch. Monarchs come here because, although there are frosts here, they are not as deadly to butterflies as in the north. Local conditions are ideal for wintering (in other words, hibernation)

While it is certainly safer to be in a crowd, hibernating butterflies are easy prey for predators, despite the fact that monarchs are poisonous. Some birds have learned to tear off the poisonous parts of butterflies and eat the rest. Every year, birds eat hundreds of thousands of butterflies and displace even more from their habitats, but this is unlikely to have the same impact on butterfly populations as, say, deforestation

Those butterflies that have fallen from the branches must rise back as soon as possible - this is a matter of life and death. Their wings vibrate to warm their flight muscles and lift them up before they freeze on the ground. Those who managed to survive huddle in trees for four months. Spring warmth will awaken them from hibernation

The lifespan of a monarch butterfly is tiny by our standards. Those born in early summer live only two months. For the generation that appeared at the end of summer and is about to spend the winter, nature has provided a special form of existence called diapause. Diapause is a non-reproductive phase of life, a physiological state of torpor during which the aging process slows down. It is this state of diapause that allows monarch butterflies to survive the winter.

Most butterflies survive and drink their first nectar after four months. As it gets warmer, more and more butterflies wake up and take to the air. Soon they will all go north, and their great-grandchildren will then return here again, sheltering from the northern winter

Those monarch butterflies that survived the winter do not have long to live. However, before they fly too far, they will encounter plants suitable for breeding. There the butterflies will mate. The caterpillar and pupa stages last about two weeks, and now a new generation of monarchs is ready to continue their journey north

The new butterflies will then lay eggs on their own. But this will not be the generation that returns to the coniferous forests of California and Mexico. Only the fourth generation of butterflies in this cycle will return there. Monarch butterflies have survived this way for thousands of years, and long may it continue!

The monarch butterfly (scientific name: Danaus plexippus) is perhaps the most famous of all North American butterflies. It is easily recognized by its bright orange-red wings with black streaks and white spots along the edges. Each fall, millions of these butterflies migrate south to California and Mexico from Canada for the winter, and return north to Canada in the summer. This is the only butterfly that regularly migrates from north to south, as birds do. But the most amazing thing is that not a single butterfly makes the entire journey. This happens because the life of a butterfly is short, and during the entire period of migration there are 3 to 4 generations of butterflies. Monarch butterflies are also one of the few insects that can cross the Atlantic. Before migrating, they gather in huge colonies on coniferous trees, and stick around them so that the trees turn orange and the branches sag under their weight. This amazing sight attracts many tourists.

For years, people have been puzzled as to where the millions of monarchs that spend the summer in Canada disappear to during the winter. It was not until 1937 that Canadian zoologist F. Urquhart began tracking the movements of butterflies, marking the wings of thousands of individuals. 38 years later, with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country, the scientist located the first wintering refuge of the butterflies on the top of Mount Michoacán in Mexico, several thousand kilometers from the starting point of their migration. The site is now a World Heritage Site and is known as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. There are dozens of such sites in Mexico, and they are protected by the Mexican government as ecological reserves.

Unfortunately, monarch wintering colonies are under threat due to widespread deforestation. This year, the number of monarch butterflies that completed their migration in the Mexican forest fell to their lowest level in two decades. This was mainly due to extreme weather conditions and rapid expansion of agricultural land. According to the colony's annual census conducted in December 2012, the area of forest occupied by butterflies has decreased from 50 hectares to 2.94 hectares.

The migration of monarchs is a natural miracle, both for Canada and Mexico, and for all humanity. It would be a real shame to lose him. You can also read about a glass butterfly with transparent wings in our article.

Butterflies in nature

Butterfly migrations

Many European butterflies are born in the Mediterranean and then migrate north. Huge concentrations of thistles, meadow jaundices, cutworms and other species travel such distances. In the fall they die, leaving no offspring in new northern places. So, every year, myriads of butterflies fly in from warm regions to replace them.
Some species migrate seasonally: they fly to warmer regions in winter. Like birds, butterflies travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. They do not choose hot countries, but those where the temperature does not drop below zero. In such conditions, metabolism essentially stops, and butterflies live off the reserves accumulated in the body.

Such migrations are typical for thistles. The champion among migrants is rightfully considered the North American monarch butterfly, which moves from Canada to Central America. At the end of summer, these butterflies gather in flocks and head south, sometimes covering over 3000 km. They fly during the day at a speed of approximately 35 km/h, along strictly defined routes, and winter in some forest areas of Mexico and neighboring countries. Myriads of butterflies cling to tree branches that bend under their weight.
The climate in these places is ideal for monarchs - there is high humidity and there is no drought. The temperature is almost constant and the soil remains warm. In the spring, when everything around comes to life, monarchs leave the Mexican forests and fly north. In Canada they lay eggs from which a new generation emerges. Overwintered butterflies then die. In the summer, one after another, two generations of butterflies are born, they head further north, and in the fall they migrate south, to Mexico, where their ancestors once wintered. The migration of monarchs is still an unsolved mystery of nature.

When migrating, insects are guided by an innate biological sense of time and direction. Daytime butterflies migrate in sunny weather, as they receive energy from the sun. In the morning they prefer to fly to the northwest, and in the afternoon - to the northeast. Some moths migrate using the moon and stars as a guide. If the sky is covered with clouds, nocturnal butterflies orient themselves according to the Earth’s magnetic field, which seems to be inaccessible to daytime butterflies. The average speed of migrating daytime butterflies is 10 - 15 km/h. With a tailwind, they stay higher above the ground, and if there is a headwind or side wind, they stay lower.

The white florella (Catopsilia florella) is recognized as the champion in terms of flight range in Africa. Every year from December to February, tens of millions of these butterflies, having left the arid outskirts of the Sahara Desert, fly south to Zaire in flocks up to 20 km long and up to 5 km wide. After all, here, with the beginning of the rainy season, flowers bloom, the nectar of which they will feed on. And with the return of the dry season, the butterflies will fly back. Butterflies of the same species, living in southern Africa, make similar seasonal migrations, heading to the northwest.
Migrants from Mediterranean countries are some of the largest and most beautiful hawk moths in Russia: the “death’s head” and the oleander hawk moth. Some individuals fly to St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk and even to the southern coasts of the Kola Peninsula. However, in the harsh climate of these northern regions they do not produce offspring.

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