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Home > Blogs > Birds and Butterflies > Archives > 2008 > October > 17 > Entry
What do butterflies do in the winter?
The reports are in from Mexico. The first monarchs have arrived in the overwintering locations. Locals are reporting seeing 200-600 butterflies per hour. This is great news; it means the butterflies are on schedule. Following the monarch migration brings up some questions on what other butterflies do for the winter.
The monarchs are the most famous for the long trip they take each winter but a few other butterflies migrate as well. Painted ladies and red admirals travel to the southern state to spend the winter. The buckeye goes south into Mexico.
Other butterflies spend the winter in our area but not as adult butterflies. Many of the swallowtails overwinter as chrysalis. When the temperature is right and the plants are available again the butterflies emerge. Some butterflies overwinter as caterpillars, the early instar of the caterpillar drops to the ground borrows in and sleep tight. Viceroy, red spotted purple, pearl crescent and many of the fritillary over winter in this manner. There are a few butterflies that will overwinter as adults. In our area mouring cloaks, commas and question marks will do this.
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