Monarch Butterflies

Did you know that millions of monarchs migrate 1200-3000 miles from the US and Canada into Central Mexico (and some to the coast of California) for the winter? They enjoy eating the toxic Milkweed which not only can they tolerate, but they also use it as a defense mechanism by storing the toxins in their bodies which make them poisonous to predators.

 

Their scientific name is Danaus plexippus which means sleepy transformation. Western monarchs have declined 90% since the 1980s according to the National Wildlife Foundation so we are thrilled to have monarchs fluttering about the fields here.