Mexican Travelers: Annual Monarch Butterfly Migration

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

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

If only a lazy person has not heard about the migration of animals or birds, then the massive flights of butterflies is a phenomenon that is worth talking about in more detail. Perhaps one of the most interesting facts about the migration of butterflies is that three or four generations of insects change during the flight. Despite this, the Monarch butterfly colony is able to cross the Atlantic, and few can boast of such achievements.

Migration of butterflies begins in October, usually the colony is from 1200 to 2800 individuals. Despite the fact that there are always different generations of butterflies flying, they manage to pick the same trees for stops every year. American and Mexican ecologists make every effort to protect the insect population during migration (a special biosphere reserve has been created). Despite all the efforts of the "green", butterflies cannot escape the threat of extinction, the main reason is the massive felling of trees. This year, the number of butterflies has dropped sharply, with the lowest number recorded in the last 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, colonies of butterflies have more than once inspired artists to create thematic installations, which we told the readers of the site Kulturologiya.ru about. For example, the American artist Tasha Lewis became famous for her street exhibitions called "Attack of the Butterflies", and the Spaniard Carlos Amorales even decorated the walls of the old church with black moths. Which is better, man-made miracles or natural ones, is up to you to judge.