Student Article
Millions of Insects Squeeze Through a Narrow Mountain Pass in the Pyrenees Each Year!
Insect (noun): A small animal with six legs and usually wings.
Journey (noun): A trip from one place to another.
Pass (noun): A narrow gap between mountains.
Migration (noun): The movement of animals from one place to another.
Every autumn, millions of insects make an amazing journey!
A bug superhighway Every autumn, over 17 million insects travel through a narrow mountain pass in the Pyrenees, between France and Spain. Scientists have discovered this incredible migration and studied it for four years. Meet the travelers The insects, like marmalade hoverflies and cabbage white butterflies, start their journey in northern Europe and head south for the winter. There were some days that the scientists observed 3,000 hoverflies going through every three feet (one meter) of the pass every minute. Why this spot matters This mountain pass is very important for because it is the easiest way to get through the high mountains. Scientists believe that billions of insects migrate through the Pyrenees every autumn.
© Simon Birch / Our Media
Insect (noun): A small animal with six legs and usually wings.
Journey (noun): A trip from one place to another.
Pass (noun): A narrow gap between mountains.
Migration (noun): The movement of animals from one place to another.