Monarch Butterfly

The monarch is the state butterfly of Minnesota. It is perhaps the most well known butterfly in North America. The monarch is a member of the Danainae subfamily. Danaine are butterflies that larva, caterpillar, eat milkweed. The milkweed that the caterpillar eats makes them toxic to many would be predators. The monarch is one of the few butterflies that migrate south for the winter. In the fall they migrate in large numbers to southern California or central Mexico. During the winter large groups of monarchs perch in trees in a sort of suspended animation. Come February and March they awaken, mate, lay eggs and then die. The generation that hatches will move north where they will lay their eggs and begin the process again. Because of their migration monarchs are occasionally found in Europe, Asia, and Australia.