Monarch Caterpillars Flock to Milkweed in Preparation for Epic Migration

The miracle of metamorphosis is on full display in a friend's backyard where monarch caterpillars are feeding on milkweed leaves and stalks.

These larvae, with their distinctive yellow, black, and white stripes, will eventually grow into butterflies that will migrate thousands of miles to Mexico. It's estimated that less than 10% of monarch eggs and larvae survive to butterfly adulthood.

The caterpillars feed solely on milkweed for a brief period of 10-14 days before they start looking for a place to pupate. They may crawl up to 30 feet away from the milkweed to find shelter or attach themselves to a shrub.

The 'super generation' monarch butterflies that emerge from this process will live for eight months and travel back north to lay eggs and eventually die. This remarkable journey is a testament to nature's incredible intricacy and resilience.