Why Do Butterflies Migrate

Every year, butterflies go through an annual migration towards the south for the winter. This is because of the climate change butterflies cannot sustain. This route is over 3,000 miles one way, however the migration is a two-way process. Butterflies however, unlike birds or other migratory animals, only travel one way and their generations after must take the journey back. Though this process may seem as a natural reaction of butterflies, how does it happen, where do they go, and how do they travel?
Why do butterflies migrate? Butterflies are naturally cold-blooded creatures and cannot endure the cold winter climate. This may seem unappealing to travel such a long distance, however, if butterflies were to not be able migrate each winter, they
During the late fall, before the temperature is too cold, butterflies embark on a 3,000-mile migration south. Monarchs will follow along warm air currents until they have reached their final destination. Butterflies in northern United States end up in the central to south of Mexico. During this migration, monarchs group together by millions, at night, to retain heat from the cold of North America and Canada. After migration, monarchs spend their winter in mountains, clustered together in oyamel fir trees. These trees create a blanket of heat and shade to regulate the winter temperature for monarchs. After winter, the monarchs migrate north a couple hundred miles. They then lay eggs and then their offspring fly north a couple more hundred miles and repeat the process until they are at the original starting point. This process can proceed for 3-5 generations until the entire migration is repeated for next Fall. More often than not, butterflies will fly to the same exact trees as the generations before
Monarchs will only travel during the day and fly alone until they meet at night for warmth. They must gather and rest at night in places called roost sites. These roost usually take place in thick fir trees like pines and evergreens. These roost sites can last from anywhere to 2 nights to 2 weeks. A roost will form by butterflies coming in from states all over, meeting at one point, and compiling together for heat. These roost take place in trees that have shelter from wind and outside predators. More often than not, roost tend to be more populated by butterflies coming from the southern winds. Researchers believe that monarchs use numbers as a safety mechanism from predators, scaring off any potential harm with there wing patterns. Furthermore, butterflies use roosting as mainly a heat source or as protection but when nights are warmer they may not roost at