News Animals

The last leg of the longest butterfly migration has now been identified

The insects have breeding grounds across central Africa's savannas and highlands

A photo of a painted lady butterfly resting on a lion paw print in the dirt.

A painted lady butterfly that traveled thousands of kilometers from Europe to Africa, and crossed the Sahara, rests on a lion footprint in Benin.

Roger Vila

By Erin Garcia de Jesús

Every year, painted lady butterflies born in Europe embark south on an epic journey to Africa. Now, researchers know exactly where on the continent these long-haul travelers spend their winter vacation.