The Monarch is undoubtedly one of the most famous butterflies in the world, known for the impressive migrations undertaken by some populations. Those from Canada, for example, fly south in autumn to reach lands with a milder climate such as California and Mexico, where they spend the winter.
They travel more than 3,000 kilometres to reach the same trees where previous generations wintered. How they manage to recognise them remains a mystery. The Monarchs of the Butterfly House come from tropical populations (Central and South America) and are therefore not ‘programmed’ to migrate and avoid the harsh winters which are absent in the tropics.
origin: Central and South America
