Today, we welcome special guest, Kris Lawson. Kris is a Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer and avid outdoorswoman who lives in the greater La Crosse region of the Driftless. She is a frequent hiking partner, an adventurer and a careful observer of natural phenomena. Her volunteer work brings her into frequent contact with interesting information and this column is no exception!
What tiny creature can fly up to 5.5 mph, soar as high as 11,000 feet, fly 2,000 to 3,000 miles and weigh less than 1 ounce?
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| Monarch butterfly |
It’s the “super generation” of the eastern population of the Monarch butterfly. The 4th - and longest-lived - generation of Monarchs earns its name by traveling an incredible distance and living for up to 8 months.
These butterflies start their migration in late summer from the northern and eastern parts of the United States south to the Oyamel fir forest at an elevation of 11,000 feet in the mountains of central Mexico. No other butterfly species undertakes such long-distance migration involving multiple generations, making the Monarch’s journey one of nature’s most remarkable phenomena.
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| Tagging monarchs at Trempealeau Nat’l Wildlife Refuge Image - Kris Lawson |
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| Overwintering Monarchs in Mexico Monarch Joint Venture Image - Wendy Caldwell |
That is when I realized just how extraordinary these butterflies are. To truly appreciate their migration, it’s important to understand how each generation plays a role in this incredible journey.
The multi-generational relay starts in the transvolcanic mountain range in central Mexico. This special 4th “super generation” of Monarchs were born in late summer or early fall, building up fat reserves during their migration to central Mexico, enabling them to enter a state of torpor (semi-hibernation) and survive for up to eight months through the Mexico winter.
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| Monarch nectoring on a common milkweed |
The 1st generation (and all generations), over thirty to forty days, transforms through four life cycle stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and finally adult Monarch. The adult Monarch in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations live for about 2 to 6 weeks. Once a new female and male Monarch butterfly hatch, they start looking for a mate and nectar and continue the journey north flying at an elevation of 800 to 1,000 ft in search of emerging milkweed plants to lay their eggs. The table below summarizes the life cycle of the Monarch.
Summary of Monarch Annual Life Cycle from
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| *Months during each generation exist Summary of Monarch Annual Life Cycle table from Monarch Joint Venture |
Here in Wisconsin and Minnesota, we have a mix of 3rd and 4th “super generation” Monarchs. The 4th “super generation” of Monarchs live up to 8 months. They make the long journey south of up to 3,000 miles to central Mexico, starting in September or October. Along the way, they stop to feed and rest, arriving by November. While no single Monarch completes the entire migration, each generation completes the journey where the previous one left off, ensuring the species survival across thousands of miles.
So why should you care about Monarch butterflies?
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| Monarch caterpillar on a common milkweed |
They play a crucial role in pollinating several species of wildflowers and maintaining healthy ecosystems, making their survival important for both nature and agriculture. Despite their short lives, they are an integral part of the web of life.
To survive, Monarch caterpillars rely exclusively on milkweed plants, which are becoming scarce due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Some people look at it as a noxious weed that harms agriculture and grows aggressively, but Monarchs need it to sustain their life.
How can you help? Create or support Monarch Waystations - gardens that provide milkweed and nectar plants. By planting milkweed, avoiding pesticides use and/or supporting local waystations, you play a direct role in preserving this remarkable butterfly for future generations.
Check below for more information on Monarch butterflies and how to help them survive and thrive:
To survive, Monarch caterpillars rely exclusively on milkweed plants, which are becoming scarce due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Some people look at it as a noxious weed that harms agriculture and grows aggressively, but Monarchs need it to sustain their life.
Check below for more information on Monarch butterflies and how to help them survive and thrive:
Local resources for Monarch butterflies:
- Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative
- Monarch Joint Venture
- Protecting Monarch Butterflies & Their…,
- Prairie Enthusiasts | Save Your Local Rare Habitats,
- Conservation for life | Mississippi Valley Conservancy,
- Community Science - The Nature Place
- local nurseries.
Images, unless noted -Marge Loch-Wouters
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| Monarch on an orange-eye butterfly bush |
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