Fluttering Through Texas: Exploring the Wonders of the Texas Butterfly Migration

Texas provides habitats for the most butterfly species of any state in the U.S. with 442 recorded species. Arizona is second with 325, and California is third with 250 butterfly species. Texas butterfly habitats feature dew-kissed forests in the east, arid deserts in the west, vibrant flower-laced prairies in the northeastern and central regions, and subtropical coastal grasslands and bayous in the south.

What Is the Texas State Butterfly?

The Texas legislature adopted the monarch butterfly as the state insect in 1995 to represent the state’s spirit of nobility and determination. If there is a prolific amount of wild flowers, and there are millions of those in Texas, there will be butterflies. 

Butterflies and bees compete to collect flower nectar. In 2015, the Texas legislature added the western honey bee as the state’s official “state pollinator”. Blue, lavender, purple, white, and yellow flowers, and especially blue and lavender flowers, strongly attract bees.

What Flowers are Monarch Butterflies Attracted To?

A bee is genetically developed to recognize ultraviolet light in blue, lavender, purple, white, and yellow flowers. Many flower species reflect ultraviolet light. The vibrant colors and patterns on flowers attract bees as a visual clue to their nectar and pollen. Orange, pink, purple, red, white, and yellowflowers draw butterflies to them, and particularly to pink, purple, and red flowers that are more visible to them. 

Butterflies can see a wide array of hues, including ultraviolet light. Radiantly colored flowers in these hues lead butterflies to what is often a generous amount of nectar, a primary food source for butterflies. They appear to prefer flat or clustered flowers that provide an easy landing platform.

What Time of Year Do Monarch Butterflies Migrate Through Texas?

The monarch butterfly migration brings excitement to butterfly lovers and is one of the most impressive natural events in animalia. Monarchs migrate through Texas during two peak periods, spring and fall, which will vary each year depending on climate, environmental, and weather conditions. 

Monarchs embark on their northward journey from Central Mexico in March, typically. They flutter across Texas through April on their way to their northern breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada. Male monarchs attract females using visual cues and pheromones. Male monarchs perform aerial shows to impress potential mates.

During their fall migration, monarchs take two main flyways. One stretches across a 300-mile wide path stretching from Wichita Falls to Eagle Pass, Texas. This segment of this flyway occurs in late September through early November. Monarchs usually occupy their Texas coast flyway from the third week of October to the middle of November.

In March, after overwintering in the northern U.S. and Canada, monarchs start heading north. Milkweeds attract them as the habitat where they lay their eggs and then die. Monarch hatchlings continue traveling north in several generations that will continue to populate the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada. Every year, the monarch flight patterns are the same. 

Where to See Monarch Butterfly Migration in Texas?

Dr. Jeffry Glassberg is the founder and president of the North American Butterfly Association in Mission, Texas. Jeff has written several guide books about North American butterflies, including the Butterflies through Binoculars series that have changed the way people learn about and experience butterflies and other insects in nature.

According to Dr. Glassberg, some of the best opportunities to see the monarch’s Texas migration are in South Texas, and also in Mission, Texas, at the National Butterfly Center, whichoften hosts events and educational programs about monarchs, and from Mission to Roma, Texas.

Other Texas Regions for Monarch Migration Watching:

Central Texas

Hill Country: The Texas Hill Country, particularly around Fredericksburg, offers a scenic backdrop for watching monarchs as they pass through during their fall migration. Look for them in gardens and parks.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Botanical Garden and other parks in the area can attract migrating monarchs due to the abundance of nectar-rich flowers.

Coastal Texas

Port Aransas: This coastal area is known for its butterfly diversity and is a great spot to observe monarchs as they migrate along the coast. The Port Aransas Nature Preserve is a good location for sightings.

South Padre Island: Known for its natural beauty and coastal habitats, South Padre Island is another great location for viewing migrating monarchs.

North Texas

Dallas/Fort Worth Area: Many parks and gardens, such as the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, attract migrating monarchs. Look for educational events focused on butterflies during migration season.

South Texas

Mission, Texas: This area is a key stopover point for migrating monarchs. The National Butterfly Center in Mission often hosts events and educational programs about monarchs.

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park: Located in Mission, this park provides a habitat for butterflies, making it an excellent place to observe monarchs during migration.

Another popular Texas butterfly watching guide is the out-of-print but still available Butterflies of Texas, by Raymond Neck, 1966. 

What Texas Butterfly Looks Like a Monarch?

• It is easy to mistake the viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). The following are the primary differences that distinguish the two butterfly species.
• Monarchs are generally larger than Viceroys.
• Monarchs do not feature the viceroy’s characteristic horizontal black stripe across its hind wings. Monarchs have black borders with white dots around vibrant orange wings.
• Monarch wings are sharper than the more rounded viceroy wings.
• Monarchs glide smoothly through the atmosphere compared to the more erratic flight patterns of viceroys.  
• An amazing fact is that viceroys mimic looking like monarchs. Monarchs are toxic to the predators of viceroys. Viceroys are not toxic to their predators, but they can deter them by acting like monarchs. This is called Batesian mimicry.

The Annual Butterfly Festival in Mission, Texas

The Annual Butterfly Festival celebrating butterflies attracts visitors from around the world to wonder in awe at the migrating monarchs and other butterflies. The timing of this globally popular butterfly fest varies to coincide with the peak of the monarch migration whenever it occurs, whether in late October or early November. 

The Annual Butterfly Festival in Mission, Texas, is a celebration of the region’s plentiful butterfly species and the National Butterfly Center in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley hosts this festival. This region is one of the top butterfly-watching spots in North America. 

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most varied biological regions in the U.S. The festival highlights this by showcasing butterflies and other wildlife living in the Valley. “The Valley” presents (as Texans know that region) a great opportunity for visitors to see rare butterflies that do not live anywhere else.