The Enchanted Earl: Monarch Butterflies Enthrall Visitors and Residents in Western Australian Town – Butterflies

Thousands of monarch butterflies have taken over the town of Nannup, in South-west Western Australia. The butterflies, which feed as larvae on invasive cotton bush and milkweed, are a common species. However, their high numbers in the area are evidence of the advancement of the invasive weeds. It is believed that the butterflies were blown across to Australia, from North America, during cyclonic weather in the early 1870s. They only settled here in the last 30 years when the weeds also gained a footing. The view of the butterflies has been a significant attraction at the Nannup flower and garden festival attracting social media attention and large crowds.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/18/monarch-butterfly-swarm-nannup-western-australia