What Are ‘Super Monarchs’? Here’s How to Help in the Hudson Valley

Monarch butterflies are one of the most famous animals in New York, but there's a new generation of the beautiful insects that are even more special than the rest. Have you heard of the "super monarch"?

Monarch butterflies (as well as monarch caterpillars) are always a welcome sight in local gardens. While there are certain plants that can help attract them, super monarchs may need some extra assistance, since they will undertake a journey unlike any other.

Super Monarchs Arriving in the Hudson Valley

"The SUPER monarchs are built different", began a recent post from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Facebook (below). "They live longer than their previous generations [and] they migrate further than their previous generations". Here's what makes a generation of monarchs "super":

What Are "Super" Monarch Butterflies?

The super monarch butterflies are the result of several generations that have been slowly making their way north. Now, it's time to make the return trip, which requires a "super" effort. From the USFWS:

Each of these previous generations migrated north, resulting in four generations over the course of the summer. Butterflies in this last generation are members of the generation that migrates south, often called the monarch super generation

How Hudson Valley residents Can Help Super Monarch Butterflies

While it takes four generations of monarchs to travel north, it will only take one generation to return south. These super monarchs can travel up to 50 miles each day, and can use all the help they can get from Hudson Valley residents.

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The easiest way to help is by planting milkweed and other nectar-producing plants that can provide a convenient snack for the super monarchs. The migrating monarchs seen in the Hudson Valley could be travelling up to 3,000 miles, so the more plants the better. Check out their epic journey below.