Poring through photographs of 400 monarch butterflies led to the discovery that the monarchs that survived the trip to Mexico tended to have more white spots on their wings. Credit... Davis et al ...

Researchers find that the white spots on the wings of monarch butterflies may help them fly farther. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on June 21, 2023.) Accessibility links ...

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.

The big white spots seen on the wings of migratory monarch butterflies may have evolved to help them fly more efficiently on their long, hot journeys By Corryn Wetzel 21 June 2023 ...

Butterflies could lose spots as climate warms Date: January 18, 2024 Source: University of Exeter Summary: Female meadow brown butterflies have fewer spots if they develop in warmer weather -- so ...

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.

Among 400 photographed pairs of monarch butterfly wings that the team examined, the ones with the most white spots belonged to the most successful migrants, which made it all the way to Mexico.

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.

Think of a monarch butterfly, and a distinctive image pops up: black-and-orange wings, with a sprinkling of white spots around the black edges. Those white spots may actually help monarchs complete ...