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What is Southwest Monarch Study doing to stop the spread of COVID-19?
Read
COVID-19 Field Requirements for details.
The Southwest Monarch Study
is researching the migration and breeding patterns of monarch butterflies in Arizona and the SouthWestern United States.
It was once believed that monarch butterflies East of the Rocky Mountains
flew to the mountains near Mexico City for the winter and monarchs West of the Rockies flew to the coast of California.
Through Fall tagging in the Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Western
Colorado), we have learned that
this is not always the case. There is much more
to learn about the wild monarch migration throughout the Southwestern states. If you love monarch butterflies,
consider joining our study.
Our Mission: Click here
How do we do this? Click here
What Have We Learned So Far?
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See what we have learned about the monarch migration and breeding in the southwest here
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Sit back and watch this Southwest Monarchs webinar by the USFWS Monarch Conservation Webinar Series here
- A scientific paper, Status of Danaus plexippus in Arizona, that reports the findings of the first ten years of the Southwest
Monarch Study has been
published in the Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. You can download it here.
- You can also download an easy to read pdf summary of the Arizona paper
Top Ten Findings of Status of Danaus plexippus in Arizona.pdf
Over 600 Citizen Scientists have tagged monarchs for the Southwest Monarch Study.
Since 2004, they have tagged thousands of monarch butterflies throughout the Southwest. Through recoveries, we now know that
some of these monarchs flew to
Mexico, and others to the coast of California (a recovery is a tagged monarch reported in a distant location) We have
discovered monarch breeding habitats around the state and are also learning about
monarchs that spend the winter in Arizona.
Through analysis of tagging and recovery data, we are also uncovering some fascinating patterns about
weather, especially wind, and how it affects the monarch migration.
If a monarch you tagged is sighted in another location we will always contact you.
Look at our sample map. The yellow/red lines represent recoveries
in the 2018 season. The green lines represent earlier recoveries.
Who can participate?
Everyone! All ages can learn to tag monarchs.
We are very excited by these recoveries, but there is so much more to learn. Join a tagging trip
or tag on your own.
No effort is too small—we never know who will discover a new piece in the monarch puzzle. How to tag? Take a few moments
to read this link.
Come and join us in some of the most beautiful places in the southwestern United States, have fun, and contribute to the
understanding of one of the world’s most spectacular natural phenomena, the monarch migration.
If you are interested
in joining this exciting research, or would like more information about our recoveries, email:
info@swmonarchs.org
We Are Now a Nonprofit Organization!
You asked, we listened. Through your encouragement, We are now a federal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation
helps us purchase tags and print educational brochures as well as offer milkweed seasonally. We are grateful
for your financial support of monarch conservation in the southwest. Donations are now tax deductible.
Data Policy
Click here
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/SouthwestMonarchStudy for up to the minute monarch news!
