Monarch Migration and Milkweed Maps Frequently Asked Questions About Monarch Butterflies Monarch Migration News Monarch Butterfly Home Page Report Your Sightings! Monarch Butterfly Resources Monarch Home Page Journey North Home Journey North Resources for Kids: Monarch Butterflies

Lipids Mass of Monarch Butterflies*
(in milligrams)
Month

Butterflies
in Clusters

Butterflies
at Flowers

Nov

138

 

Dec

128

53

Jan

101

23

Feb

73

21

Mar

58

21

Apr

26

 

* Based on butterflies collected at the Mexican overwintering sites by many researchers over serveral years at different times during the overwintering months. Exception: April data, in red above, were butterflies collected in the southern United States after successfully migrating from Mexico.

From: Alonso-Mejia, A., E Rendon-Salinas, Brower, L.P. 1997. Use of lipid reserves by monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico: Implications for conservation. Ecological Applications, 7(3), 1997, pp 934-947.

Annenberg Learner Home Page Search Journey North Facebook Journey North Home Page
Copyright 1997-2012 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.