Thousands of Monarch Butterflies are Headed Straight For Virginia This Spring

Good news, nature enthusiasts in Virginia! Spring is buzzing at our door. Along with the arrival of warmer days, wildflowers, and hummingbirds, you can now look forward to spotting some beautiful monarch butterflies in Virginia. These magical creatures journey northward from Mexico and spend the summer here before heading south again in the fall. In the meantime, you can keep your eyes peeled for their beautiful shades of orange, black, and white. Let's take a look at the best time to see monarch butterflies in Virginia. You might want to have your camera ready to snap pics of these fluttering beauties during this natural phenomenon this spring. 

When the monarchs return from their winter in warmer climates, they are on a mission to lay eggs. Monarch butterflies will lay eggs on milkweed plants, which have leaves that are necessary for the egg and larvae stage of the butterfly lifecycle.

The next generation that will emerge from these plants is the one that will take flight and continue northward. In fact, the monarch butterfly goes through four generations between spring and summer, all in preparation for the important trip back south in the fall.

The fourth generation that makes this remarkable journey is known as the Super Generation. These butterflies can live up to nine months, compared to other generations, which only live between two to six weeks. If you'd like to increase your odds of spotting butterflies along their migration and love the idea of helping them out, you're in luck!

Planting milkweed in your garden, also known as Asclepias, will ensure the insects are safe. Not only does this plant produce gorgeous flowers, but it's a source of food for the monarch caterpillars. Plus, this is the only host plant for monarch butterfly eggs, so it's crucial for the survival of the species. Do you know why monarch butterflies are orange? The bright hue warns predators about potentially poisonous chemicals which the butterfly gets from milkweed. How incredible is that?

Check out this wonderful map, courtesy of Journey North, that shows this year's progress of the migrating monarch butterfly. As you'll see, most sightings have occurred along the coast.

Have you noticed any beautiful monarch butterflies in Virginia? Do you have a favorite destination or hiking trail in Virginia to see these beautiful creatures? If so, be sure to visit our nomination page and share it with us. For more up-to-date information about the springtime butterfly migration, you can visit the Monarch Watch website.

For another wonderful spring migration, keep an eye out for hummingbirds in Virginia.