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How can monarch butterflies navigate accurately when... | Almanac.com

How can monarch butterflies navigate accurately when...

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How can monarch butterflies navigate accurately when a full migration cycle may take three to ten generations?
Answer
Here’s the short explanation. Monarch butterflies are following their noses, in a way. They feed exclusively on milkweed, and the patterns they fly were originally based on the spread of milkweed from east to west. This habit was virtually written into the butterfly’s genetic code. What isn’t clear is what seasonal changes prompt the cyclical migration pattern from northwest to southwest and back again.