A. Monarchs have bodies that are about 10 cm wide (including their wings).
A. Monarchs weigh, on average, about half a gram. This can vary from about .27 grams (a very small monarch!) to about .75 grams (a very big monarch!)
How long does it take a monarch to migrate to Mexico? Here's one butterfly's story:
In fall 2014 a monarch was tagged in Indiana on September 20. It was recovered on November 1st in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas where it was nectaring on sunflowers. The butterfly had traveled 1,386 miles in 40 days. It had only 300 more miles to travel to reach the overwintering sites in central Mexico.
Based on the migration rate so far, how many days do you think the total trip to the overwintering grounds would take?
The magnificent migratory generation is developing now. Watch for the 1st signs of fall migration in mid-August. Get ready to track the trip to Mexico!
When monarchs arrive from Mexico in the early spring, milkweed is beginning to emerge. Female monarchs must find milkweed quickly. They are at the end of their lives and have eggs to lay. Milkweed is the only food monarch larvae will eat, so finding it is of the utmost importance.
