Monarch migration
Area rich in milkweed (genus Asclepias)
Conditions most conducive to growth of the herbaceous plant
200
mi
The butterflies migrate north from temperate Mexico in the spring, avoiding mountainous areas on the way, and reach southern Canada by midsummer. A warming climate has led small populations to take up full-time residence around the Gulf of Mexico, breeding year-round.
200
km
Annual monarch butterfly migration
Nonmigratory population
Spring
Fall
The yearly multigenerational cycle
2
3
4
5
6
1
Early Mar.
Overwinter
monarchs
breed before
moving north
Late Mar.-Apr.
Overwinter
monarchs arrive,
lay eggs, and die
Late Apr.-early May
Mature offspring
of overwinter
generation
head north
Late May-Sept.
Next generations
forage and disperse
Sept.-Oct.
Last generations
head south
Nov.-Mar.
Last generations
arrive and
overwinter
B.C.
ALTA.
SASK.
P.E.I.
MAN.
N.B.
CANADA
U.S.
WASH.
QUEBEC
N.S.
ME.
MINN.
Migratory
limit of
western
monarchs
MONT.
N. DAK.
CAN.
U.S.
Ottawa
VT.
MICH.
OREG.
ONTARIO
N.H.
WIS.
5
WYO.
MASS.
Lake
Michigan
N.Y.
S. DAK.
IDAHO
CONN.
MICH.
R.I.
Great
Salt
Lake
PA.
IOWA
NEBR.
N.J.
OHIO
4
MD.
CALIF.
DEL.
NEVADA
IND.
UTAH
ILL.
COLO.
W.VA.
Washington, D.C.
MO.
KANS.
VA.
KY.
3
Overwintering
area
N.C.
ARIZ.
TENN.
S.C.
2
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
OKLA.
GA.
ALA.
U.S.
MEX.
ARK.
TEXAS
MISS.
LA.
Nonmigratory
monarchs
FLA.
1
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Overwintering
area
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Mexico City
6
Matthew W. Chwastyk, NGM Staff. Brandon Shypkowski.
Sources: Chip Taylor, University of Kansas; Karen Oberhauser, University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum; Christine Merlin, Texas A&M University; Wayne E. Thogmartin, USGS; USDA; Journey North; Monarch Joint Venture; Biota of North America Program; Nathan P. Lemoine
Monarch migration
Area rich in milkweed
(genus Asclepias)
The butterflies migrate north from temperate Mexico in the spring, avoiding mountainous areas on the way, and reach southern Canada by midsummer. A warming climate has led small populations to take up full-time residence around the Gulf of Mexico, breeding year-round.
Conditions most conducive to growth of the herbaceous plant
Annual monarch
butterfly migration
Nonmigratory
population
Spring
Fall
300
mi
ALTA.
300
km
SASK.
MAN.
P.E.I.
CANADA
U.S.
QUEBEC
N.B.
ME.
N. DAK.
MINN.
N.S.
MONT.
CAN.
U.S.
Sept.-Oct.
Last generations
head south
MICH.
Ottawa
Gulf of
Maine
ONTARIO
Late May-Sept.
Next generations
forage and disperse
VT.
WIS.
N.H.
MASS.
N.Y.
S. DAK.
CONN.
WYO.
R.I.
MICH.
PA.
NEBR.
IOWA
N.J.
OHIO
UTAH
MD.
IND.
DEL.
ILL.
COLO.
W.VA.
MO.
Washington, D.C.
VA.
KY.
KANS.
ARIZ.
Northbound
extent,
late April
TENN.
OKLA.
N.C.
ALA.
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
GA.
ARK.
S.C.
MISS.
N. MEX.
TEXAS
LA.
Nonmigratory
monarchs
FLA.
Gulf of Mexico
Early Mar.
Overwinter monarchs
begin migration
Overwintering area
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Nov.-Mar.
Last generations
arrive and overwinter
Mexico City
Western monarchs
Overwintering along the California coast, the western population of monarchs spreads eastward to the Rocky Mountains in the spring; returning to the same area in the fall.
Matthew W. Chwastyk, NGM Staff. Brandon Shypkowski.
Sources: Chip Taylor, U. of Kansas; Karen Oberhauser, U. of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum; Christine Merlin, Texas A&M U.; Wayne E. Thogmartin, USGS; USDA; Journey North; Monarch Joint Venture; Biota of N. Amer. Program; Nathan P. Lemoine
Monarch migration
The butterflies migrate north from temperate Mexico in the spring, avoiding mountainous areas on the way, and reach southern Canada by midsummer. A warming climate has led small populations to take up full-time residence around the Gulf of Mexico, breeding year-round.
Area rich in milkweed (genus Asclepias)
Conditions most conducive to growth of the herbaceous plant
Annual monarch butterfly migration
Nonmigratory
population
Spring
Fall
CANADA
Ottawa
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
UNITED
STATES
Washington,
D.C.
U.S.
MEX.
Nonmigratory
monarchs
MEXICO
Gulf of Mexico
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Mexico City
Overwintering area
300
mi
300
km
Western monarchs
Overwintering along the California coast, the western population of monarchs spreads eastward to the Rocky Mountains in the spring; returning to the same area in the fall.
Matthew W. Chwastyk, NGM Staff. Brandon Shypkowski.
Sources: Chip Taylor, U. of Kans.; Karen Oberhauser, U. of Wis.–Madison Arboretum; Christine Merlin, Tex. A&M U.; Wayne E. Thogmartin, USGS; USDA; Journey North; Monarch Joint Venture; Biota of N. Amer. Program; Nathan P. Lemoine