Algeciras residents witness monarch butterfly life cycle in urban setting

A viral video from Algeciras has captured a rare sight of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) undergoing various stages of their life cycle on a single milkweed plant. The discovery occurred in the median of Paseo del Puerto on Avenida Virgen del Carmen, a busy urban area.

The footage, recorded by students from the IES El Getares Environmental Education and Control program, shows adult butterflies alongside caterpillars, providing a close look at the species' development within a city setting. While monarch butterflies are famous for their migrations in North America, this urban sighting highlights the importance of milkweed plants for their life cycle.