As summer begins to give way to fall, monarch butterflies are once again making their way through Missouri during their annual migration south.
The orange-and-black-winged insects have already begun appearing across Missouri, along with their eggs and caterpillars, according to the butterfly-tracking nonprofit Journey North.
Here's how to catch one last glance at the monarchs before the next season.
How long do monarch butterflies live?
Monarch butterflies typically live just two to six weeks. However, those born in late summer can survive for eight to nine months, allowing them to migrate south and spend the winter clustered in trees in Mexico and California.
In the spring, they return to their breeding grounds,
with some traveling as far north as southern Canada.
When is peak monarch migration in Missouri?
The peak of the monarch's fall migration through Missouri typically takes place in mid-to-late September.
During this time, monarch butterflies can often be seen gathered in trees and feeding on nectar-rich flowers, while their caterpillars can be found on milkweed plants.
Where to see monarchs in Missouri
In Missouri, monarchs are found in a wide variety of habitats: fields and grasslands, roadsides, and urban and suburban plantings.
Unfortunately, various factors are driving declines in monarch butterfly populations. Among the culprits is the widespread use of herbicides across North America, which has reduced milkweeds, the sole food source for monarch caterpillars, as well as many of the wildflowers that provide nectar for adult butterflies. In the Midwest in particular, herbicide-resistant crops have allowed farmers to eliminate nearly all non-crop vegetation across vast stretches of farmland, leaving monarchs with fewer places to feed and breed.
How to follow the monarch migration
If you'd like to follow the monarchs' migration, visit journeynorth.org to see where others have spotted the butterflies, as well as their eggs, caterpillars and milkweed. You can also add your own sightings to help monitor the species' annual journey.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Monarch butterfly migration begins soon. Where to see them in Missouri
