A
ny time hundreds of millions of any species migrate well over 2,000
miles each year, there is a story to be told. In the case of the monarch
butterfly, however, the massive migration is just the beginning of its
incredible tale. The monarch butterflies that visit Kiawah are from
the eastern population of the species (Danaus plexippus), one of the most widely
recognized butterflies in the world. Their orange and black colored wings and large
wing size (about four inches) make them standouts wherever they travel. They stop
to visit in Kiawah during the early fall on their way to Mexico. To appreciate the
amazing story of these beautiful creatures it is easiest to start at the beginning of
their journey—in the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountain range of Mexico.
49