Master Gardener Association - Outagamie County

Until your kids and grandkids return . . . Safe travels!

Many of Wisconsin’s monarchs have already begun their 2,000-mile migration south, where they will overwinter in tight clusters on the branches of fir trees.

In addition to monarchs, several other Wisconsin species of butterflies fly south for the winter, including the painted lady, American lady and red admiral.

While this long-distance flight is impressive for such delicate creatures, the majority of Wisconsin’s 150 species of butterflies spend their winter here. Some eggs overwinter on the stems of plants, and others spend the winter in their larval or pupal stage underground or in leaf litter. The mourning cloak butterfly even hibernates in their adult stage under bark or in crevices of trees.

Leaving your leaves and keeping your yard free from pesticides and herbicides is the best thing you can do to help butterflies and other pollinators year-round.