In the Mexican MountainsButterflies in Mexico

On February 17, 2009 MonarchLIVE webcast and broadcast from Sierra Chincua, one of only a few mountain peaks in the Mexican states of Mexico and Michoacan in which monarch butterflies overwinter.  This is the first time that a live television program or webcast has come live from the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. CLICK HERE to watch the webcast.

The eastern population of North America’s monarchs overwinters in the same Mexican mountain areas every year from October to late March. Monarchs roost for the winter in oyamel fir forests at an elevation of 2400 to 3600 meters (nearly two miles above sea level). The mountain hillsides of the oyamel forest provide an ideal microclimate for the butterflies. Here temperatures range from 0 to 15 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is lower, the monarchs are forced to use their fat reserves. The humidity in the oyamel forest assures the monarchs won’t dry out allowing them to conserve their energy.

Directional Aids

Researchers are still investigating what directional aids monarchs use to find their overwintering location. It appears to be a combination of directional aids such as the magnetic pull of the earth and the position of the sun among others, not one in particular.

Protection of Oyamel Forest

Conservation of overwintering habitat is very important to the survival of monarchs. In 1986, the Mexican Government recognized the importance of oyamel forests to monarch butterflies and created the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. In July 2008, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve was named a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  

This information was summarized from:
http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/migration/index.shtml

During the webcast and broadcast on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Time, learn about:

  • the monarch butterflies overwintering biology
  • migration biology
  • an overview of the ideal conditions in the oyamel fir forests of Mexico
  • predators and problems of survival in the Mexican mountains, and
  • conservation efforts in Mexico, the United States, and Canada

Here's how you can participate:

Links

For more information about monarchs’ winter destination in the Mexican mountains, visit the following web pages:

Monarch Butterfly: North America’s Migrating Insect
http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/migration/index.shtml
The eastern population of North America’s monarchs overwinters in the same 11 to 12 mountain areas in the States of Mexico and Michoacan from October to late March.

Journey North
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutWinter.html
Journey North has information about monarach’s overwintering season.