News Animals

Monarch butterflies’ ancestors migrated

The insects originated in North America, genetics study finds

monarch butterflies

A HISTORY OF TRAVEL  Some monarch butterflies live in the tropics and stay put, but their ancestors were migratory North Americans, like these wintering in Mexico. 

Sonia Altizer

By Kate Baggaley

- More than 2 years ago

The earliest monarch butterflies arose in North America and were migratory, contrary to what scientists believed.