By just glancing at these pictures, you’d think that you were looking
at some kind of leaf-covered backyard. It’s not that uncommon to look
at out a lawn and see a scattering of dark-orange leaves leftover from
the last fall. Or maybe there’s some kind of strange foliage covering
the ground? The truth of it, though, is something you’d probably never
guess. It’s
way cooler than just a bunch of leaves.
Check it out.
It’s hard to tell what exactly is covering the ground here…
Even when you zoom in a little, it’s not clear.
Are those mushrooms? Moss? Leaves?
Hint: it’s none of those things.
Monarch butterflies, to be exact, during their migration.
Monarchs are known for their yearly migration over long distances.
In North America, they make massive southward migrations starting in
August until the first frost. Then, there is a northward migration in
the spring.
No individual butterfly actually ever completes a round-trip migration.
The length of these journeys exceeds the normal lifespan of most
monarchs, so the butterflies pass the torch to the younger generations.
It’s overwhelming to think what these tiny, beautiful creatures do every year.
The Monarch butterfly and their yearly migrations is just one of
those many things on this earth that seem simple, but are absolutely
stunning. How do the butterflies know where to go every year, especially
when no one butterfly makes it through the entire journey?
Via
Amusing Planet
