The Monarch butterfly is as mysterious as it is beautiful. It spends its summers in the cool northern states and Canada, only to make a hurried journey hundred and hundreds of miles south to Mexico, pushed by cold fronts in September and October. Some adults may mate along the way and die, sending their offspring to complete the journey across the border. Overwintering in crowded reserves of Oyamel trees in only about ten dozen locations, the long winter turns to spring and in March the journey to the north begins again. Advancing more slowly, three or four generations of offspring may be produced, making the butterflies that return to the north as much as the great, great grandchildren of the Monarchs that were there the summer before.
So strong is the instinct to migrate that these fragile but determined butterflies can complete the round trip in generational-segments, without a single butterfly ever making the complete round trip journey. To learn more about this wonderful and mysterious butterfly, an ongoing tagging program was undertaken several years ago and is participated in by thousands of school kids every fall. This and other research projects of Monarch Watch is attempting to help piece together some of the great puzzle that is the Monarch and its majestic migration.
Monarch Watch is a national project headed by Entomologist Dr. Chip Taylor at the University of Kansas, with Dr. Karen Oberhauser at the University of Minnesota, and Brad Williamson, high school biology teacher at Olathe East High School. Click to go to their web site to learn a lot more, and to learn how you can become a part of project
Monarch Watch
 Monarch Metamorphosis
My students participate in project Monarch Watch each fall. Students capture, tag, and release Monarch butterflies, after recording such information as sex and condition, and sometimes size measurements. Monarchs are also raised in a captive breeding project to study their life cycle. Using a Ken-a-Vision Video Flex camera and a VCR I have recorded the Monarch's metamorphosis. Then using a Snappy, I have captured still images to make a slideshow of the entire life cycle of this great butterfly.
Click on any stamp to view a full-size image of the many stages in the Monarch life cycle.
        
Click below to view determining sex, tagging, microphotographs of wing scales, and parasites.
The last image shows the millions of Monarchs overwintering in Mexico.
     
This icon will take you to a map of the overwintering sites in Mexico. It's from the people at Journey North.
Did you know...... Early settlers who came to North America from Europe, particularly those from Holland and England, were impressed by the sight of the Monarch butterfly. So, they named it "Monarch," after King William, Prince of Orange, stateholder of Holland, and later named King of England. The Monarchs' color suggested the name. From William, we get the vernacular "Billy", and hence the name "King Billy", which has also been applied to the butterfly. (Source: Monarch Watch FAQ page.)
Recoveries
As you can see students at my schools have been very successful having Monarchs recovered in Mexico after we tag them in Kansas. Read below and you'll see we had one of only 10 Mexico recoveries one year, and had a high of 28 recoveries in the 2003-2004 season. The increase in recoveries is due to the higher number of Monarchs being tagged, and especially because there are more people in Mexico hunting in the Oyamel forests for the tags. They are paid $5 for each tag they turn in to a researcher, and my students have recently held fundraisers to help offset the Monarch Watch costs for obtaining these tags. Your Monarch Watch membership will help fund the program. Click the link to go see how you can join this awesome program.
- LT873 Tagged 9-15-1994; Olathe Ks; Juanita Kimbrough/Mrs. Donham
Recovered 2-18-1995; Drexel Missouri; 40 miles/3 days
- LT842 Tagged 9-15-1994; Olathe Ks; Mrs. Williamson/Mrs. Donham
Recovered 3-1995; El Rosario Mexico; 1370 miles/180 days
- EV942 Tagged 10-7-1996; Olathe Ks; Brad Grotheer
Recovered 10-7-1996; Olathe Ks; female condition 1; 0 miles/0 days
- EV370 Tagged 9-25-1996; Olathe; Eric Holtz/Mrs. Donham
Recovered 2-97; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 3
Nationally, this was the first Mexico recovery of 1996-97!
- JS252 Tagged 9-24-1996; Olathe Ks; Paul Sheets
Recovered 4-1997; Sierra Chincua Mexico; female/condition 1; 1550 miles/150 days
This was one of only 10 total recoveries in Mexico as of late March 1997!
- RQ208 Tagged 9-11-1997; Olathe Ks; Will Atkins
Recovered 3-1-98; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 2; 1371 miles/160 days
- RQ219 Tagged 9-16-1997; Olathe Ks; Kevin Kroll
Recovered 3-1-1998; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 2; 1371 miles/160 days
- ????? Tagged 9-?-1997; Olathe Ks; ?/Mrs. Donham
Recovered ?-?-1998; Mexico
- XG060 Tagged 9-23-1998; Olathe Ks; Faith Guaghn
Recovered 9-29-1998; Olathe Ks; Brad Williamson; female condition 1; 1 mile/6 days
- XG150Tagged 9-11-1998; Lawrence Ks; Becky Jamison
Recovered 2-1999; El Rosario Mexico; condition 3; 1370 miles/6 months
- XG316 Tagged 9-24-1998; Olathe Ks; Erik Nelson
Recovered ?-1999; Valle de Bravo Mexico; Paul Vergeer; female condition 2; 1371 miles/? days
- XG260 Tagged 9-24-1998; Olathe Ks; Erik Nelson
Recovered 1-1999; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1371 miles/5 months
- 451NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Mandy Meister
Recovered 1-26-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- 490NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; John Slater
Recovered 2-8-2000; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles/145 days
- 447NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Mackenzie Wiglesworth
Recovered 2-14-2000; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- 451NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Mandy Meister
Recovered 1-26-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- 451NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Chris Tumberger
Recovered 3-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- 451NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Mandy Meister
Recovered 1-26-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- 536NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Briana Ernst
Recovered 5-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- 538NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Briana Ernst
Recovered 3-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- 722NN Tagged 9-16-1999; Lawrence Ks; Cher-Hee Lye
Recovered 1-28-2000; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 2; 1366 miles
- 374SU Tagged 9-19-2000; Lawrence Ks; Colin Smalley
Recovered 11-12-2000; San Angelo Texas; female condition 1; 586 miles
- 229SU Tagged 9-19-2000; Lawrence Ks; Tyler Fritz
Recovered 2-28-2001; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1367 miles
- AEK945 Tagged 9-25-2001; Lawrence Ks; Paige Ruby
Recovered 3-6-2003; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ020 Tagged 9-12-2003; Lawrence Ks; Erik Ahlgren
Recovered 3-6-2004; Sierra Chincua, Mexico; female condition 1; 1362 miles
- CHZ013 Tagged 9-12-2003; Lawrence, Ks; Cody Billings
Recovered 3-3-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ008 Tagged 9-12-2003; Lawrence Ks; Matt Kneib
Recovered 3-3-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ215 Tagged 9-12-2003; Lawrence Ks; Regan Murphy
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ138 Tagged 9-12-2003; Lawrence Ks; Michael Mauer
Recovered 2-25-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ077 Tagged 9-12-2003; Lawrence Ks; Kyle Weishaar
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHY973 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Laeth Hamil
Recovered 3-5-2004; Cerro Pelon Mexico; male condition 1; 1382 miles
- CHY946 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Nico Rodriguez
Recovered 3-3-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 Miles
- CHY872 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Dylan Kelling
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHY858 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Ariel Racca
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHY815 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Josh Rydberg
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHY807 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Tyler Marks
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHY753 Tagged 9-17-2003; Lawrence Ks; Zach Polson
Recovered 3-6-2004; Sierra Chincua Mexico; male condition 1; 1362 miles
- CHN094 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Damian Cox
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 2; 1366 miles
- CHN079 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Jeremy Wassmer
Recovered 3-3-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHN037 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Emily Sappingfield
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; ?; 1366 miles
- CHN031 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Chris Weaver
Recovered 3-1-2004; El Rosario Mexico; ?; 1366 miles
- CHN018 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Chris Bridges
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHN005 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Katie Zimbeck
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHM985 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Maddie Heeren
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHM955 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Michael Starling
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHN159 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Jared VanLandingham
Recovered 3-3-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 3; 1367 miles
- CHN125 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Colin Hammond
Recovered 2-29-2004; El Rosario Mexico; ? condition 1; 1366 miles
- CKE888 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Nikki Reigel
Recovered 3-1-2004; el Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CKE877 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Anthony Nemec
Recovered 3-3-2004; El Rosario mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ068 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; David Wagner
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHZ028 Tagged 9-19-2003; Lawrence Ks; Paige Johnson
Recovered 3-1-2004; El Rosario Mexico; female condition 1; 1366 miles
- CHN101 Tagged 9-22-2003; Olathe Ks; Nicole Deuvall
Recovered 3-5-2004; El Rosario Mexico; male condition 3; 1367 miles
A big thanks goes to my colleague Paula Donham for leading Monarch Watch at Frontier for so many years, and providing me specimens and technical information, and to Brad Williamson (Olathe East HS) and Carol Williamson (Olathe District Science Coordinator) for originally getting us started!
Cool Video
There's a great video produced by the Canadian Discovery Channel. Monarch, Butterfly Without Borders, is available from Bullfrog films 1-800-543-3764, at $259...? for schools or $34.95 private non-institutional use. Dr. Taylor and other Monarch Watch pioneers are featured in this very educational documentary.
Please Note
Except for the wintering site picture, the Monarch life cycle images linked to this page are mine. (©) They may be downloaded as freeware for teaching, other educational purposes, changed to bitmap/wallpaper for your computer, etc, but not marketed for profit.... unless I get a cut! :-) The Gulliver Monarch larvae and Monarch background were borrowed with permission from
Monarch Watch at Kansas University.
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Monarch Watch 
