Now during late summer, Monarch butterflies begin their final preparation for their long trip to Mexico from Roxbury, VT. From the chrysalis phase , metamorphosis continues until an adult butterfly emerges. After pumping fluid into its wings, the Monarch will fly off, drinking nectar, using air currents & thermals and navigating with Earth’s gravitation pull and the angle of the Sun towards Michoacan, Mexico. This is a one-way journey, 2500 miles for this generation. In order to conserve energy the Monarch does not mate during this phase (diapause.) When the Monarch finally arrives at its destination, it will generally land in a forest of Oyamel fir trees, with thousands of others. During overwintering, (October- March), it will begin the cycle of egg > caterpillar > chrysalis > adult once again, producing 3-4 new generations. These last generations are the Monarchs that will migrate, one-way north in April of the following year. (US Dept. Of Agriculture, Forest Service)