Millions Of Monarch Butterflies Are Headed Straight For Connecticut This Spring
By Lisa Sammons|Published March 13, 2023
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
Spring in Connecticut is a magical time. From our beautiful flowers in bloom to the wonderful festivals that take place all over the state, there’s a lot to love about the Nutmeg State at this time of year. No matter your age, one of the best parts about spring in Connecticut is the colorful arrival of millions of monarch butterflies. These bejeweled little insects are smaller than the palm of your hand, but they annually travel thousands of miles to reach our state. It’s truly one of nature’s most impressive displays.
The annual Connecticut monarch butterfly migration is almost unbelievable in its scope. These delicate little creatures fly all the way from Mexico!
Most of the time, when we see monarch butterflies in Connecticut, they're flying solo, sipping from a flower. However, they actually roost in large groups during the migration from Mexico.
In New England, the monarchs' migration is at peak in late spring and early summer (typically between late May and early June). You'll usually see the most number of monarch butterflies in Connecticut around those times, with slight variation from year to year depending on the weather.
Interestingly enough, four generations of butterflies make the trip between Connecticut and Mexico each year. They only live about a month, so no single butterfly completes the entire trip.
If you'd like to increase your chances of spotting monarch butterflies in Connecticut, plant milkweed in your garden. Just make sure you don't use any pesticides - you don't want to harm them!