The last leg of the longest butterfly migration has now been identified

The insects have breeding grounds across central Africa's savannas and highlands

A photo of a painted lady butterfly resting on a lion paw print in the dirt.

A painted lady butterfly that traveled thousands of kilometers from Europe to Africa, and crossed the Sahara, rests on a lion footprint in Benin.

Roger Vila

Every year, painted lady butterflies born in Europe embark south on an epic journey to Africa.