Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The colorful butterfly that summers in the United States and winters in Mexico is the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
Each fall, millions migrate up to 3,000 miles to oyamel fir forests in central Mexico's mountains, clustering by the thousands on trees. In spring, they journey north, breeding along the way. This multi-generational migration is one of nature's most remarkable phenomena.
Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change threaten this iconic species. Conservation efforts focus on planting milkweed (essential for caterpillars) and protecting overwintering sites.