Butterflies

[Matheous-2]

Do butterflies migrate, and if so fly at a great height?
I was led to believe they had a very short lifespan - a matter of days....!

[frugalfred]

Lepidoptera species migrate on all continents except Antarctica; they migrate from or within subtropical and tropical areas. The terms migratory butterfly and migratory moth are location-bound: they are only known as such in the areas where the species cannot establish themselves permanently.

By migrating, Lepidoptera species can avoid unfavorable circumstances, including weather, food shortage, or over-population. Like birds, there are Lepidoptera species of which all individuals migrate, but there are also species of which only a subgroup of the individuals migrate.

[soapnumpty]

I had always assumed they died after a few days, but it was on TV this week that they do migrate, and fly at a great height. Something like 1km. I think it was on QI.

[ducksie]

lifespan is about 30-40 days

[LazyGun]

Some species do,Matheous. Average butterfly lifespan - as a butterfly, rather than a caterpillar or what have you - is around a month.

A nice page on some basic butterfly facts for you, if you are interested. Scan down to about half way down the page for some additional details about migration.

http://www.naba.org/qanda.html

[Prudie]

Lots of butterflies do migrate although don't know the height. Some manage to survive the winter here if they find a sheltered place to hang out. I thought they could live for a couple of years.

[Prudie]

Well I don't know about US butterflies only living a month but that is not the case in the UK eg - "There are only a few species of butterfly that we see in early spring and generally the earliest individuals seen each year are those that survive the winter by hibernating in their adult form. One butterfly which regularly over-winters in Britain is the small tortoiseshell."

[Matheous-2]

Wow! Guys, thank you all for such a thorough and swift response!
I am in awe that these insects can fly so high!

[LazyGun]

Monarch butterflies are pretty amazing, Matheous.These are the ones most often seen at great heights.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/HeightFallFlight.html

[wildwood]

What is really amazing is that the Monarchs from North America migrate to Mexico for the winter, and that journey takes so long that not one butterfly that left N.A. arrives in Mexico, the arrivals are a next generation or two. Migrating Monarchs lay eggs onroute and these go into rest until the right time to further their development so they can 'continue' the migration as a species at the right time. The migrating route must come as part of their genetic make up, which I find pretty incredible.