Monarch butterflies are amazing insects of North America with a unique two-way migration. These butterflies are famous for their beautiful orange color. Watching them in nature, especially when they swarm in large numbers, is an incredible experience. Because Delaware is in the migration path of monarchs, it is a great place to see these butterflies in person. Read on to learn when, where, and how you can spot monarch butterflies in Delaware.
A monarch butterfly sits beautifully on a flower.
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When to Spot Monarch Butterflies in Delaware
Monarch butterflies make a two-way migration every year. They fly down to Mexico during the winter for warmer weather. Then, they return to the northern United States during the summer months. This migration pattern means that monarch butterflies are present in Delaware during their fall migration, but are largely absent during the winter months after they have migrated south. This is because the butterflies cannot ‘overwinter,’ or survive the winter, in Delaware. Since the butterflies are not found in winter, the best time to go spotting is from July through September, during their peak migration period.
The Delaware Nature Society states that the best time to see monarch butterflies is from July through September. The Delaware Nature Society participates in monarch tagging events as part of the Monarch Watch program, helping to track the butterflies’ migration before their journey south. The generation born near the end of summer is called the ‘super generation’. The generation of monarchs born near the end of summer is called the ‘super generation.’ These butterflies have a longer lifespan, which allows them to complete the entire journey south to Mexico to overwinter. Visiting in the spring and summer offers the best opportunity to see the butterflies. You can catch them before they make their journey south.
Where to Spot Monarch Butterflies
The Delaware Nature Society highlights the Ashland Butterfly Habitat as a recommended location to spot monarchs and other butterfly species, especially from July through September. The habitat garden features a wide variety of plants that attract butterflies each year. This location is ideal for all ages to learn more about monarchs. Visitors can discover which plants attract butterflies, learn about their migration paths and patterns, and find out how to create a butterfly-friendly garden. It’s a great location to observe migrating butterflies.
A butterfly visits a butterfly bush.
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What Plants Monarch Butterflies Like
Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed, which is the only plant their caterpillars eat. Milkweeds contain toxins called cardenolides and cardiac glycosides, which make monarchs dangerous for predators to consume. These plants are what attract butterflies the most. Gardens with various milkweed species often attract the most monarch butterflies, making parks or areas with abundant milkweed the best places to spot them. If you’d like to attract monarch butterflies to your garden, planting milkweed is one of the best ways to do it.
What’s Needed in Spotting
Butterfly spotting is a fun and easy activity that requires very little equipment. The best part is that it is an activity that all ages can enjoy. Bringing small items such as cameras, binoculars, or notebooks can make the experience even more enjoyable and memorable. Whether you’re experienced or spotting monarchs for the first time, we hope this article has helped you prepare!
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