Monarch

This enormously famous butterfly is seen from southern Canada to southern California, Texas and Florida.  Is is truly a nationally visible butterfly.  It migrates from the north of the USA to Mexico.  They also over-winter in southern California.   There are resident populations in Florida from the Big Bend to the Keys.  They feed on the poisonous Milkweed plants and pass on the toxins to the adult butterflies.  In Florida there is an annual Monarch Festival in late October when, ‘usually’, the mass of migrating butterflies come through and turn West to head off to Mexico.  The Festival is at St Marks NWR.