What forest do monarch butterflies migrate to?

Oyamel fir tree forests
The Monarch Butterflies settle in the Oyamel fir tree forests which are situated west of Mexico City; along the eastern perimeter of the Mexican state of Michoacán, also bordering the State of Mexico. Once here, the butterflies cluster on the tree trunks and remain in the region for the winter.

Where is the monarch butterfly forest?

The reserve is located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests ecoregion on the border of Michoacán and State of Mexico, 100 km (62 miles), northwest of Mexico City. Millions of butterflies arrive in the reserve annually.

Where do monarch butterflies migrate to and from?

Flying up to 2,500 miles from the US and Canada where they breed, all the way down to the forests in central Mexico where they hibernate, the monarch’s migratory pattern is the most highly evolved of any known species of their kind.

Where do monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico?

The monarch butterflies spend their winters in the Sierra Madre mountains in the states of Mexico and Michoacán, west of Mexico City. Come late March, the butterflies return north, following internal instinct along with external clues such as weather patterns and the position of the sun.

Where is the oyamel forest?

southern Mexico
Abies religiosa, the oyamel fir or sacred fir, (known as oyamel in Spanish) is a fir native to the mountains of central and southern Mexico (Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Sierra Madre del Sur) and western Guatemala.

Where do monarch butterflies migrate to in California?

Every year, from October through early March, these butterflies migrate to central & southern California, mostly coming in from areas west of the Rocky Mountains, and south from Oregon & Idaho. They flock to San Diego, Orange County, Monterey and Santa Cruz, forming huge clusters in groves along the coast.

What month do monarch butterflies migrate?

The Monarchs’ Migration So every fall – in early October, huge clouds of monarch butterflies make the 2,500-mile trek south where they live in hibernation for six to eight months. Then, in February or March, the entire cycle starts all over again.

Where do monarch butterflies go in winter?

Monarch butterflies in North America migrate from the colder northern regions to overwinter in California and Mexico, with some of the butterflies travelling thousands of kilometres!

How far north do monarch butterflies go?

3,000 miles
The colorful insect’s migration across the North American continent is one of the greatest natural events on Earth. Each fall, millions of monarch butterflies leave their summer breeding grounds in the northeastern U.S. and Canada and travel upwards of 3,000 miles to reach overwintering grounds in southwestern Mexico.

Why do monarchs like oyamel fir trees?

The dense canopy of the oyamel fir forests maintains the microhabitat necessary for monarchs by acting as a blanket, keeping them warm enough at night by retaining heat from the ground, and acting also as an umbrella, which protects them from rain, wind, and snow.

Why do monarchs go to Michoacán?

The butterflies migrate to this forest because it has all the elements they need to reproduce. There are clear streams running between the bushes, the temperature is cool but not too cold, and – most importantly – it’s silent.