"A male patrols the canopy and grasps the wings of a female, using the claws on his feet as he encounters her. The pair parachutes down to the ground. If he manages to attach to her (about 10% of the time), she folds her wings and he then flies off with her, if he can, to a safe perch where mating is completed. This is called the nuptial flight. The pair will stay coupled for many hours, including overnight."
![Monarch Butterflies Mating in Mexico Before Departure](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/mexico/romero/032314_08_800.jpg)
Estela Romero