The Monarch butterfly is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. It is easily recognizable by its bright orange-red wings, with black veins and white spots along the edges. The Monarch butterfly is famous for its southward migration from Canada to Mexico and the northward return back to Canada in summer. Every fall, millions of these butterflies fly west to their wintering grounds in California and Mexico, covering the trees there with their bright shimmering wings. |
These butterflies congregate into colonies and become almost a canopy around trees. In many cases, they are so thick that the trees turn orange in color and branches sag from the weight. It’s a remarkable sight that attracts scores of tourists each year. |
The Monarch butterfly is the only butterflies that migrate like birds do - going both north and south. However, no single butterfly lives to see the whole journey as migrations usually span 3-4 generations of the short-lived insect. It is also one of the only insects to cross the Atlantic.
|
The Monarch Butterflies travel between 1,200-2,800 miles, from Canada to the central Mexican forests, where the climate is warmer. |
Submitted by user: Nora L.
Related Articles (Collections):
Butterfly and Moth Photo Galleries
Stunning Photos of Wild Animals
Beautiful and Weird Sea Creatures
A Stunning Bird Photography Collection
The Most Beautiful Trees and Forests
Meet 10 of Australia’s Scariest Inhabitants
Here’s proof that Australia has some of the scariest creatures.
15 Cool and Unexpected Things Found by Complete Accident
See these outstanding accidental discoveries in this photo collection!
20 Breathtaking Photos of Our Crazy Beautiful Planet
Sit back and enjoy some gorgeous photos from around the world.
INTERACTIVE: 26 of the Cutest & Prettiest Animal Posts!
From pandas to bunnies, from tigers to hedgehogs, this interactive collection promises animal lovers a terrific time!
14 Incredible Sights from the Mighty Andes
We have curated a stunning collection of photos that showcase one of the most remote and awe-inspiring places on Earth.
Ever Hear of THESE Mixed Dog Breeds? 50 Beautiful Pairings
This post will show you no less than 50 of the most adorable mixes of dogs you may have never encountered before.
17 Trees Almost Too Beautiful and Strange To Be Real!
Trees are great, aren’t they? Nature is full of great wonders, but few are as startling as these bizarre but beautiful trees.
Have You Ever Seen a More Beautiful Garden Than This?
Kayoichou Park is situated in Kasuya Town on the edge of Fukuoka City on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Take a look at the stunning rose garden there.
True Friendship Survives Beyond Time - Beautiful!
Gorilla Reunites With Carer 5 Years Later...
14 Incredible Sights from the Mighty Andes
We have curated a stunning collection of photos that showcase one of the most remote and awe-inspiring places on Earth.
Amazing Nature: Can a Lion Fend Off 20 Hyenas?
What happens when Red the lion gets attacked by a pack of hyenas?
Say Hello to the Tiniest Bird You'll Ever See!
How small is the tiniest bird ever recorded? Watch this video and find out!
10 of the SMARTEST Animals on the Planet
You won't believe how clever these 10 animals are, some of them can even outperform humans on some tasks! See for yourself, as we have the videos to prove it!
Rain Adds So Much More Beauty to Nature...
Flowers are way more beautiful after some rain has fallen. Don't believe us? Check these photos out then!
Nature's Brilliant Blues Will Brighten Your Day
We live on the 'blue planet', underneath a blue sky, but instances of blue elsewhere is actually quite rare. Here are some of the most beautiful examples.
Australia Is Home to Some of the World’s Cutest Animals
Australia is home to most living marsupials, a family of mammals unlike any other on earth.
9 of the Most Fascinating Night-Singing Birds
Enter the fascinating world of birds that chirp mellifluously at night.
The Wonders of the Maasai Mara in 10 Award-Winning Photos
Prepare for the wildlife adventure of a lifetime!
These Cute Animal Encounters Took People by Surprise
Enjoy these touching images of harmony between animals and humans.
10 Vegetables and Plants You Can Grow in the Fall
Just because we're approaching fall it doesn't mean you should hang up your gardening gloves. There's still plenty of things you can plant in your garden.
Milky Way Photographer of the Year 2023: 15 Striking Pics
The winners of the 2023 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest have been revealed!
The Adorable Babies of 10 of the Most Feared Predators
Although we'd prefer not to come close to predatory beasts, their babies are so cute and hard to resist!
14 Plants in the Most Artful, Unique, and Quirky Pots
These perfectly-paired pots and plants will light up any garden.
7 Fascinating Natural Phenomena Science Can’t Explain
From the Great Blue Hole in Belize to the Sailing Stones in CA, this video will introduce you to 7 natural phenomena science isn't fully able to explain.
Stop Killing Centipedes in Your Home! Here's Why...
When it comes to common house centipedes, it many be far more beneficial for you to simply leave them alone instead of killing them. Here's why.
This Photographer Captured a Baby's Journey in the Womb
This photographer's amazing project concerned capturing a baby's development in the womb, from the moment of conception through to birth. Take a look.
These Beautiful Bird Photos Are Beyond Incredible
The Bird Photographer of the Year Awards receives some of the most stunning examples of bird photography. Here are some of those.
This Incredible Animal Video Had Millions Talking About It!
From the moment these baby iguanas hatch, they are faced with a life or death situation. Can they survive the snake gauntlet?
The Glass Butterfly: One of Nature's Most Beautiful Creatures
The 'Great Oto' butterfly is nicknamed the 'glass butterfly' and it's easy to see why. It may just be the most beautiful butterfly of all.
Discover the World of Beautiful Wild Cats
These cats may make you want to pet them, but be advised - these are all rare and highly feral breeds. Maybe it's best to enjoy these 10 wild cats from afar...
Houdini Is Back, And He's a Honey Badger Now...
An amazing video that every animal-lover should see.
Soak in the Beauty of Our Planet With These Stunning Photos
Take a look at these stunning photos of our beautiful planet Earth.
I Never Thought Such Animals Existed. Wow.
Nature can be beautiful, but it can also be rather strange, especially when you see THESE animals. Most of them are endangered animals, living only in the smallest and most remote places on earth.
You Have to See These 18 Hybrid Animals to Believe Them
I'd never even heard of a liger, a zonkey or a beefalo. But these pictures go to show that they actually exist - in real life!
Let These Animal Quotes Be Your Source of Inspiration
Animals are inspirational to many of us in this world, and the same can be said for some of its greatest names. Here are 12 truly great animal quotes.
The Lotus Flower: Why This Beautiful Flower is Significant
The lotus flower is one of the world's most famous flowers, and it has many uses as well as deep cultural significance. Find out more about the lotus flower.
The Beautiful and Elusive Snow Leopard of the Himalayas
The snow leopard is one of the most poorly-understood cats in the wild, mainly because it's so hard to see one that doesn't want to be seen.
These Animals Are All Black & Beautiful Thanks to Melanism
Melanism is a genetic mutation that results in beautiful black animals, which stand out from their species counterparts. Here are 15 melanistic animals.
Fly Through the Most Royally Stunning Castles of Europe!
I love this wonderful drone footage of the great castles and palaces of old Europe so much I just had to share it with you. It's a true life fairytale.
16 EERIE Close-Ups of Bugs Under a Microscope
Take a look at these terrifying close-ups of insect faces.
West Canada is Wild, Strong and Ever So Pretty
The wilds of West Canada are some of the most jaw dropping natural scenes in all the world we live on.
10 Amazing Facts of Nature that Are Too Weird to Believe
Bizarre natural phenomena, creatures, plants and minerals. Here are some amazing and interesting things courtesy of nature to astound you
These 24 Gems and Minerals Will Take Your Breath Away
Nature is such an incredible thing, and this applies just as strongly to the gems and minerals it forges. Here are 24 of the most beautiful gems and minerals.
Expect to See Lots of Butterflies with These Flowers
Here are 15 flowers you should add to your outdoor space in the hope of seeing more beautiful butterflies.
Do Big Cats Like Catnip? - Find Out!
We try giving catnip to 5 different types of big cats!
Cactuses Have Flowers So Beautiful and Different...
This videos will show you the true beauty of cacti flowers.
Transparent Animals Are Rare but They Really Do Exist
To preserve individual species, nature uses some wonderful tricks - like invisibility! Here are a collection of see-through creatures.