The Monarch migrationDuring winter, the monarch butterfly hibernates in Mexico’s oyamel fir trees and primarily eucalyptus trees in southern California. Sometime around March, they come out of hibernation to find a mate and migrate north and east (as far north as Canada) seeking milkweed plants along their migration route to lay eggs on. This starts generation one for the new year.
It takes 3-5 days for these eggs to hatch. The baby caterpillar eats the milkweed and grows for about 2 weeks until ready to form a chrysalis. Then 10-14 days later, the monarch butterfly emerges, feeds on nectar flowers and lives 2-6 weeks. It will then die after laying eggs for generation two. Generation three and four, born as late as September and October, do not die but can live up to eight months in the migration and hibernation cycle. During their southern migration back to Mexico and California, monarchs ride thermals up to several thousand feet in the air and may cluster together in nighttime roosts. When Spring comes, they wake and begin the journey north again in the new year. 
Based on original map created by Paul Mirocha (paulmirocha.com) for Monarch Watch at https://www.monarchwatch.org
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