Page 109 - The Miracle of Migration in Animals

HARUN YAHYA

Migration of the Monarch that
Takes Place Once Every

Four Generations

In different phases of its life, the body structure of the
monarch changes. At the larval, pupal and mature (or imago)
stages, the butterfly shows completely different structure, size,
color, habitat, behavior and biological systems.
Monarchs have very interesting characteristics that set
them apart from other butterfly species. In the space of a year,
monarchs have four different generations. The first three gener-
ations have an average life span of five to six weeks, but the
fourth generation is quite different, in that it sets off on a jour-
ney lasting about eight months and stays alive until this jour-
ney is complete.
The life of any given monarch starts when the female lays

her eggs on a milkweed plant. The tiny caterpillar hatching
from each egg feeds on the leaves for a time and each one
quickly grows. It sheds its skin five times as it grows during the
larval stage. Its skin is shed for the last time as it passes to the
pupal stage and becomes a green chrysalis, which hangs on the
stem of a leaf by a fine but very strong thread. Within this
chrysalis, the insect continues its development before emerging
in the form of a brand-new beautiful butterfly. Its wings are
crumpled at first, but as hemolymph (the blood-like substance
of insects) fills its body and wings, they enlarge, and the
monarch is ready for flight.
The journey of migration begins from different centers in
Southern Canada and continues south. One group arrives in
California and another further south in Mexico. These different

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