{"id":11341,"date":"2022-06-09T15:17:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T20:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=11341"},"modified":"2023-01-25T05:55:45","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T10:55:45","slug":"how-far-can-a-monarch-butterfly-fly-in-a-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-far-can-a-monarch-butterfly-fly-in-a-day\/","title":{"rendered":"How Far Can A Monarch Butterfly Fly In A Day?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may know that monarch butterflies are famous<\/a> for their yearly migrations to and from their overwintering grounds in Mexico and California. Considering that these butterflies have to travel far to reach these grounds, you may be wondering how fast they have to fly to get there before winter. How far can a monarch butterfly fly in a day? And how can scientists track their progress? Keep reading as we explore these and other questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Far Can a Monarch Fly in a Day?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Monarchs are the only type of butterfly that make a two-way migration each year. To successfully make this migration, they have to be able to travel incredible distances and cover a lot of ground each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists disagree on exactly how far a monarch is capable of traveling in a day. Some suggest 25 to 30 miles a day, while others suggest the distance may be <\/strong>as much as 50<\/strong><\/a> or even <\/strong>100 miles a day<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous factors that affect how far a monarch can travel in a day. Some of these factors include air temperature, storm delays, other environmental circumstances<\/a>, how far they have to go and where they begin their journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, monarchs found in northeastern portions of Canada travel to central Mexico, a distance of over 3,000 miles in some cases. Those farther south don\u2019t have as far to go, and any monarchs found west of the Rockies make a much shorter journey to parts of southern California. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The monarchs that have farther to travel may be driven by environmental cues that prompt them to clock more miles in a day than those that don\u2019t have as far to go. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cold temperatures and rain can delay their progress, while warm and clear weather may prompt them to go farther, faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does it Take a Monarch to Migrate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you might imagine, this migration doesn\u2019t take the exact same length of time for every monarch that makes the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those starting in northern Canada are bound to be traveling longer than those found in the Great Plains region because they have so much farther to journey. Those found west of the Rockies make the shortest trip of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At longest, a monarch\u2019s journey takes about two months. Those who don\u2019t have as far to travel may complete the migration in a month, possibly even less.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The length of time it takes a monarch to migrate<\/a> largely depends on how far it\u2019s flying everyday, as well as environmental factors such as prolonged periods of good or bad weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this video to learn more about the monarchs\u2019 migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z9rZz3fILt4<\/a>