Scientific name: Danaus plexippus
Migratory lepidopteran that travels thousands of kilometers between North America and Mexico.
The monarch butterfly is an icon of animal migrations.
Each year, millions of monarchs travel from Canada and the United States to the oyamel forests of Mexico, where they spend the winter grouped in large colonies.
Caterpillars feed almost exclusively on plants of the genus Asclepias (milkweed), from which they obtain toxins that make them unappetizing to many predators.
They act as pollinators and are part of complex food webs. Their disappearance would be a significant loss for the ecosystems where they live.
Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are reducing their populations and fragmenting their migration routes.
Surprising aspects of the biology and migration of the monarch butterfly.
This species is closely linked to its migrations and natural habitats. In general, it is not considered a suitable companion animal.
Its migration cycle and specific needs make it inappropriate as a companion animal for individuals.
In some places, they are bred in a controlled manner for environmental education or research, always under scientific criteria and specific regulations.
The best way to help the monarch butterfly is usually to protect its habitat, plant native milkweed species, and support conservation projects, not to keep it at home.