The Behavior of the Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterflies can be found in North America and parts of other continents. Monarch Butterflies that hatch in spring and early summer only live for a few weeks! That's not a very long life, but if a Monarch caterpillar turns into a butterfly in late summer it will live for several months. These butterflies migrate to a mountain near Mexico City called Cerro Pelon. When the tens of millions of Monarchs get to Cerro Pelon they cluster together on branches and trees. Most of the time the Monarchs fold their wings together and rest on the branches. But when the sun shines on them, they slowly open their wings and fly away to find food. The first people who found exactly where the Monarchs spent the winter were called Ken and Cathy Brugger. After a long search they found the place on January 2, 1975.