Raising Monarchs - Tagging Your Monarchs (Help The Monarch Butterfly)

[@heidireiter1046]

Thank you for your awesome videos!! 🦋🦋

[@TheScottishdiver]

Just started my interest in helping the monarchs about two years ago, so I still consider myself a comparative newbie. Your videos are a priceless resource Mr. Lund sir - very well put together. Your enthusiasm for the subject matter is very obvious. I will be tagging at the end of the 2020 season for the first time - tagging kit is on order at Monarch Watch. Much thanks for the education - I have all your videos safely installed in a bookmarked folder!!..:-)

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks Ian! The last 8 years or so have been quite the adventure. As I made these videos, I learned more, and the enthusiasm grew. I had no idea there'd be this many people, though, interested in helping them out. Thanks for deciding to jump on board! I've got many plans and topics for next summer. There's still more topics to be fleshed out. Can't wait for spring!

[@ingesexton811]

This is the best monarch tagging video I've seen. In a lot of other videos they handle the butterfly too much, switch hands alot while holding the butterfly or just not handling it properly.

[@MrLundScience]

Why thank you. You are correct in that part of the aim of this video wasn't just to show tagging, but a proper, less stressful way to handle the Monarchs as well. Thanks for checking it out.

[@lizjoe21750]

Thank you for making this video. I ordered tags despite none of my caterpillars forming a chrysalis yet. Anyway, I probably would've done something wrong had I not found this video! Fingers crossed, all of my cats will become butterflies in a couple of weeks!

[@lizjoe21750]

... I'm not sure why I said, "fingers crossed' when I don't believe in luck, LOL. Anyway, hopefully I have success.

[@David-fv7zg]

Try using your forcepts to lift the tag off the paper and place it on the butterfly. I think you will find this a lot easier.

[@douglash3390]

I'm in Oklahoma and saw a monarch with a tag fly by our building yesterday...didn't get any information on it but it was heading south !!!! 😉

[@MrLundScience]

Very cool!

[@angelabergelt9511]

We tag out here in the West. Dr. James, Professor from Washington State University coordinates the effort for Pacific Northwest migration. 👍

[@vickiezaccardo1711]

Fascinating. I'd be terrified of hurting it. Interesting that he doesn't flitter away when you go for him.

[@MrLundScience]

The first day they are out, they tend to be rather docile and will let you handle them without much of a protest.

[@katiebug5273]

Thank you so much for all your videos! You’ve got me so in love with helping monarchs! I have collected eggs, bought cute mason jars for their habitats, buying a mesh dome for the older cats, and I just bought the tracking stickers!

[@MrLundScience]

You rock, then, Katiebug! Glad I could be of service. Ask questions as you go. We're all here to help.

[@katiebug5273]

MrLundScience I couldn’t be more excited to start this journey! I love watching them and my heart was broken to hear they weren’t doing so well. I’m in Michigan as well btw🙂, northern Michigan.

[@MrLundScience]

Would that mean the Upper Peninsula, or just northern part of the Lower Peninsula?

[@katiebug5273]

MrLundScience northern part of the lower peninsula 🙂

[@tedpinkard5652]

Have watched all of your videos and have found them very informative and thorough. What a great job you do. Just released our first Monarch a few hours ago raised from egg to butterfly. Nature is very humbling. Have several more coming at various stages. I have been planting more common milkweed but have found that almost all of the eggs and caterpillars are on my Butterfly Weed that I planted for other reasons than Monarchs. Pleasant surprise. Thanks from northern PA.

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks Ted! And from what I've been hearing from others, seems like PA is having a pretty good year for finding eggs!

[@sandradevito5510]

I am so glad your tags came in time for you to make a video! My kit just shipped and I am excited to do this. Great video! Also, The Fifth Element is an excellent movie. Great name for Mr. Monarch! 👍

[@MrLundScience]

My hope was that *as soon* as they came, to move very fast on making this video, editing it, and getting it out, in the hopes that anyone else tagging this year could benefit from it. Really, it was my first time doing it too, so it's not like much "expert" opinion is in this one, but perhaps others wanted to see a good way to grasp the Monarch and how to adhere the tag.

[@triciablich]

I just wanted to say, I love all your videos!! ITs my first year raising monarchs and they have been soooo helpful!!! ~ Lower Michigan! Thanks for all the work you have done!

[@MrLundScience]

Thanks Tricia! Glad that they are helpful to you. Was the "~ Lower Michigan" comment meaning that you are from lower Michigan, or just rooting me on for being in lower Michigan? (Technically, anything in the Lower Peninsula could be considered "lower" Michigan.) Just curious, I suppose. Great to hear that you've gotten into this enjoyable and highly addictive hobby!

[@CumberlandOutdoorsman]

Hi Rich, After searching the videos that are currently available I have concluded that your series are the most useful and well done. The info you provide is a no-nonsense source for those of us that care about Monarch conservation. I found a patch of milkweeds (A. syriaca, and A. tuberosa) in an open field that was mowed some time in July so they are blooming now in late August. I spotted several Monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries nectaring on A. tuberosa. So I decided to order a tagging kit. Hopefully I will get it in time to catch some wild Monarchs, and tag, record, and release as many as I can. I also transplanted a few of the youngest common milkweeds in order to distribute and conserve a few from this patch that gets mowed over several times each year. I have done this successfully in the past, and adds to the availability of milkweeds for returning Monarchs. It is amazing how quickly they can spread from just a few transplanted individuals. Transplanting existing milkweeds that are threatened by spraying, mowing or land conversion (which completely eliminates entire milkweed habitats) might be an idea for future videos you might be inclined to do. Just a thought. Keep up the good work, what you are doing here is a truly worthwhile cause. Best wishes to you and your effort; Tom

[@MrLundScience]

I tried transplanting a milkweed just once...and failed miserably! The thing died within two weeks. I'll have to try my hand at it again. Many have asked about potted milkweed, and I just don't know enough to really tell them much worthwhile. I'm not a gardener, and have only found frustration when venturing into that realm. Perhaps it is time to expand my horizons (and my effort). Thank you also for the kind and strong review. I gotta be honest, I'm usually too busy to check out other people's Monarch videos. I don't really know anyone by name who does them, other than Mona Miller, who I'm a big fan of. She rocks! Anyone subscribing to me reading this, subscribe to Mona Miller! I consider her an authority long before I'd ever consider myself one. At any rate, other than her vids, I don't know much about the quality of other videos out there. I just try to make ones that are worth people's time, and ones I'd want to try and learn from. (I'll never make just "filler" video where I put it out just to put a video out. Some on KZbin do that, and I'd hate to be in that category. It wastes people's valuable time.) So, as long as there are worthy topics to cover, I'll keep going with Raising Monarchs. And currently, there's no shortage of ideas!

[@briancaleb6503]

I have transplanted tuberosa with success by cutting far out from the actual plant in a circle with a shovel slightly going in a angle beneath all the way around then lifting up after the complete circle not real wet soil and for sure not dry. The cutting a whole a little bigger for its new home the same deepness as it already was then pressing new soil in the extra area around it then watering it well and putting mulch around I did three of them last year one of the three came back up this year and grew double what it was the year before. I never had luck with Common. Same here a field cut down, they bailed hay.

[@MrLundScience]

This is partially why, I'm almost always on the side of "Just grow some new ones." I think it's likely a whole lot of work to do it correctly if you're not good at it...and I'm not too good at it!

[@horohorosrin]

My heavily science and nature oriented fourth grade teacher tagged monarchs with us all those years back. What I learned from those experiences has stuck with me, and I've always wanted to be able to tag more.

[@MrLundScience]

Such cool teachers stick with us, don't they?

[@ellentomologist4850]

Mr. Lund, you've done it again! I was literally just looking into this as my own chrysalis nears it's emergence date. :-)

[@MrLundScience]

I had been meaning to do it for a while. I would have done it last year, but last year was pretty rough for finding Monarchs for me.

[@johnifly]

EXCELLENT presentation on tagging Mr. Lund! Hopefully next year I can start tagging monarchs. I have a total of three monarchs that I released, one male about a week and a half ago and two (boy and girl) today!! More are turning dark now so I'll be releasing more in the next few days! :-) I LOVE it!! Just thought you'd like to know! ;-) :-)I'm the owner of "Monarchs and Milkweed" site on Facebook. Remember? ;-)

[@MrLundScience]

Oh yes, I remember. Good to hear from you again! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I wasn't sure how well it'd turn out, as it truly was my first time tagging. I thought it was so very optimal and convenient that "Corbin" actually hung out with me for a bit to make a pretty good camera shot. It's like he wanted to show off the new tag!

[@Senegal01]

Good video on Monarchs, I was tagging back in early 2000's then moved and have been working on my birding landscape in the new home, and now working on getting a area for milk plants for Monarchs. Funny cause this was farmland and covered with milkweed and now all lawn but will have a monarch garden. Got my 2020 tags and tags ready.

[@barbaratroxell6682]

Thank you for your video. The first one I chose to watch in tagging . We rear about 20 to 30 a year. I will have to order kit if not to late.

[@CumberlandOutdoorsman]

Watching you remove the tag sticker gave me the idea to use a pair of tweezers, both in removing and in applying it to the butterfly. That way you won't risk getting any sweat or skin oils on the sticker adhesive, and you will be able to place it more precisely. The best tweezers/forceps are available from Carolina Biological Supply co, Bioquip, amazon, and ebay. I prefer genuine stainless steel forceps.

[@MrLundScience]

I thought about that too. I'm not saying someone shouldn't do it that way, but still, I myself rejected the idea. Again, not saying it's *wrong*, just saying, it's not for me. Here was my thinking... Often when I troubleshoot, I take things to the extreme to see where I wind up. If I'm using my fingers to remove the stickers, what's the worst that happens? I get my finger on it too much, and/or too much oil gets on it. So, what does that lead to? If I know I ruined the sticker, I scrap it and use the next one. If I don't realize it, and still use it, perhaps it falls off a day after release, and then, the data's lost. So, worst case, a sticker goes to waste and data is lost. But, the Monarch is fine. Now, using tweezers, worst case scenario, I fumble or sneeze...or maybe I don't have as good a hold on the Monarch as I think I do and it is able to flutter its wings at the very wrong time. If I'm applying the sticker with metal tweezers, it's very possible that if the "wrong thing" happens, the tweezers damage the Monarch's wing(s). In this worst case scenario, the Monarch is damaged. So, that's how I measured it out and decided to stick with fingers. And I'll admit, the risk of ruining a sticker is greater, I think, than the risk that I'll damage a butterfly wing. Even so, I'd rather deal with a kinder, greater risk, than a lesser, yet more damaging risk. I hope that makes sense, and again, I'm not at all saying tweezers are wrong. I'm just saying, I don't trust *myself* with them.

[@CumberlandOutdoorsman]

Right! I think that whatever you are comfortable with, is what you should be doing in this regard. I am so used to employing these fine tools when I mount insects, that it was one of the first things that came to my mind. After all, there's no guarantee that the stickers will stay on even without any contamination. Considering the sheer distances these guys travel it's a wonder any of the stickers stay intact all the way to Mexico, but I guess most of them do. The adhesive they use must be able to penetrate and bond the scales to the chitenous wing surface, otherwise they would fall off the first time the butterfly flaps it's wings.

[@briancaleb6503]

I use tweezers lift them up then set the tweezers on the side and the sticker sticks up, then get the butterfly and it seems easier to get the sticker off the edge of the tweezers to apply in the wing as jsut the very tip of the sticker and tweezers have contact.

[@Lisa-TheSterlingCritic]

Ordered mine About a week ago and just got them today. I am waiting for one to emerge at this moment. I also need mine I've released two so far the first one was Alex and the one I really just today was Darrell named after my husband's father that passed away eight years ago. I am also in Michigan, Macomb Twsp.

[@AvgeekCarGeek]

Thanks for your help this is my first time tagging monarchs in New Zealand as it's coming up to winter here so I'm hoping someone finds my monarchs

[@reynagarcia778]

Thank you to your advice ..I have learned a lot of them.. so far I have delivery more than 100 in 2021

[@allclades]

We ordered 50 hopefully I'll be able to get a recovery this year.

[@MrLundScience]

Here's some internet luck sent your way: ---> Good luck!

[@Ash-xx5zd]

Your video should be sold for science classes. You provided great and encouraging information.

[@MrLundScience]

If classes have a way to watch videos through KZbin at their school, I'm very pleased that they are free to watch there. But, I see what you're saying and appreciate the sentiment. Thanks, Ash!

[@felimekj]

5th Element = so funny! good luck Corbin Dallas!

[@courdeleon]

Great info for next year. I wanted to let you know that we do tag butterflies here in the Pacific Northwest. One was recently spotted that was raised and released from the Elkton Butterfly Pavilion. It flew over 300 miles when spotted on it's way to Southern California to winter. It flew 23 miles a day! This is what was said on the "Monarch Butterflies in the Pacific Northwest" Facebook page, "I encourage anyone with pertinent observations and notes on monarch butterflies in the PNW to post them here. The Pacific Northwest is seriously under-represented in the monarch world and hopefully this page will help change this! There is much to be learnt about monarchs here, particularly their migration biology. Washington State University in association with Walla Walla Penitentiary established a long term research program in spring 2012 aimed at identifying migration routes and biology of monarchs in the PNW."

[@MrLundScience]

You're very correct about the under representation. I think I should do a follow up video about the other tagging programs. Re-watching this video, one regret I have (too late now...) is that I didn't mention what other tagging programs exist, and should have. It might be a good one to start out with next spring!

[@nancyyaguila]

Im in Illinois and we went to go look for monarchs and found 2 caterpillars. Its my first time rearing them. Came across your video when i was thinking itd be cool to track them! I would probably get anxiety holding the monarch though 😱

[@raisinglimebutterflies222]

I tag my swallowtails so I know their name and I got a chrysalis yesterday! I think one of my caterpillars is J-hanging.

[@jenniferstahl4628]

Great information thanks for the videos.

[@MrLundScience]

Happy to oblige. Thanks for checking it out.

[@widdershinswitch]

5th element is one of my favorite movies! you're pretty much my favorite person on KZbin now lol. so this is my first time ever caring for any monarch caterpillars and I'm pretty excited but i still have a lot to learn. I have one cat that has started to j hang and some how, some way a piece of milkweed got stuck in in the silk and I can't pull it off cause it's kind of between the cat and the silk. will it be okay with the leaf stuck there? it doesn't seem to bother it at all I just want to make sure. thanks so much for all these videos. they have been so helpful to me!

[@MrLundScience]

I don't think the leaf will trouble him/her. Should be fine. They are fragile, yet sometimes, tougher than we think. Welcome aboard, by the way!

[@widdershinswitch]

MrLundScience thanks! I've always wanted to have a butterfly garden and this was the first summer I was able to. I planted milkweed early in the summer and I didn't see any cats all summer long and only saw one monarch come by so i kinda thought i wouldn't see any this year but I guess I just didn't see them when they were small cause just a few days ago I found seven all 5th instar. so I missed all the fun lol but now I know what to look for next season. I'm really excited to help them out! oh by the way you can get pocket microscopes that I have heard are good enough to test for OE on amazon and most are under 20 for those that can't afford big one. hope that helps someone out :) thanks again for all your help!

[@MrLundScience]

Yeah, in retrospect, perhaps I should have ordered one of the smaller ones. Many have told me about the pocket sized ones, which I knew about, but didn't use in the video as I already had my larger one. Live and learn! Cool that you were able to make your own butterfly focused garden! That will bring benefit to your experience for years to come. Who know what other surprises you'll have, and what you'll learn!

[@widdershinswitch]

MrLundScience I just thought I'd let you know so if anyone asks you could tell them and more people can test if they want to. I intend on getting one myself so i can test too. I've always wanted a butterfly garden and I built my garden specifically for monarchs and any other butterflies are just welcome extras. I have 6 thriving milkweeds and a few other flowers for butterflies. but even with my tiny porch garden I still got 7 cats and I'm over the moon about ut. oh and a little update I have my first 2 chrysalides tonight and everyone else is j hanging except 1 odd ball that's behind everyone else. oh and I wanted to ask what is the latest you have gotten any cats? this whole last month or so I thought it was too late to find any so I kind of stopped looking lol

[@MrLundScience]

I went through and checked my journal from last year, which had been the year I found Monarchs the latest ever. I found 12 eggs on 8/21/16. Well, I guess today I sorta beat that, if we're counting just "Monarchs" and not necessarily egg vs. cat, for today, I found 9 caterpillars, all quite young. I think it's still possible for Michiganders to find eggs for the rest of this week. Not likely much after that. They already have it in them to start migrating due to the lessened amount of daylight. Still, it's possible for egg laying to occur as they fly south, and so those coming from Canada might sprinkle eggs here or there on their way down. Now, all of that is from a Michigan point of view. Not sure where you are located (my apologies if you already mentioned it and I missed that).

[@barbaramoore7080]

Just got through watching all your videos from start to finish. Wonderful!! I ordered several milkweed seed to start next year but now I found out it could be 2 to 3 years before they bloom. I got 2 plants from a place in Montana this year and they have new stems but no blooms so that is when I started looking for answers. Now I am looking for plants. If I get them now and I am in Zone 4 or 5 should I keep them in the house till next year or take a chance on planting them when they arrive? I am going to take some cuttings off the plants i have and see what happens. Will be watching you as time goes by.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Barbara! If the plants weren't something you paid money for, I'd say, plant them now, and they'd probably make it. Since you invested money, though, I guess I'd stay on the safe side and keep them healthy indoors. But let me make it very clear, *I've never done that before*. I'm totally speculating here! Chemistry and Physics are really where my largest amount of formal education lies. Insects, I learn as much as I can informally. Botany? I'm quite the noob, and really, only know what I know about Milkweed as it pertains to what I've had to learn. I've never taken care of a Milkweed plant indoors. I'd probably end up killing it!

[@hawaiidoves]

HI Rich. I live in Hawaii, and on the island of Oahu, what once was lots of Monarch's is now a rare sight. The Red-vented Bul bul, is a bird, that was introduced many years ago. I think it was in the 50's. Their numbers, have increased and so the numbers of Monarch's have been in decline. The bird, will eat a flying Monarch, but mostly when it's a caterpillar. I've been trying to save the caterpillar, from being eaten, so I collectt them and when they turn into a chrysalis, I paste them on a protected covering of our house or pigeon coop. I was hoping that you may idea's on how to protect these butterflies.

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Dennis! You're efforts are awesome. I think it would be pretentious of me to try and relate to the invasive species you must be dealing with in Hawaii. We have ours in Michigan too, but man, oh man, Hawaii has unfortunately taken blow after blow from invaders. I so wish I had advice to offer, but when it comes to an invasive bird that it now well established, it's an uphill battle. If I were in your shoes, I'd be doing what it sounds like you already are undertaking - trying to take them into an environment where the predators can not get to them. You're fighting the good fight, for sure. I'd be interested to hear how things continue for you, and wish you so much luck with what you are doing!

[@bethmorano1452]

MonarchWatch is very interested in wild caught butterflies so be sure to go out and catch some of those and tag them. I just received their newsletter for 2019. I was not planning on catching wild Monarchs but I will try to do it if it will help the research.

[@MrLundScience]

I'll be on the look out as well. I'm guessing that there's an abundance of data on reared Monarchs compared to wild ones (or at least, what seems like an abundance compared to the other group). Not everyone who rears and orders tags has a butterfly net, which is almost a requirement. Let's do what we can to help them out.

[@briancaleb6503]

Monarch Watch has the over wintering recoveries posted. They did not find one of mine best luck to everyone!

[@jarretzendt3527]

Brian Caleb how many did you tag and from what state?

[@cylanh1296]

I just released 2 monarchs a few days ago 😊 (Katy, Texas) The hurricane has made it hard for them to lay their eggs here

[@MrLundScience]

Cool to know that even in the aftermath of the hurricane, some are still able to help out the Monarchs!

[@cylanh1296]

MrLundScience yes me and a friend are raising them. She is much further along than I am and she has around 30-40 right now. During the hurricane we did give them gatorade (it was raining too much to release them) and they seamed to like it

[@addieb2082]

My chrisalis just hatched into a butterfly like an hour ago I’m about to let it go!

[@MrLundScience]

Congrats! Great parenting!

[@shermendlakk]

I know it’s been ages now but next time try to wait a day or 2

[@whatwhat8524]

Help, bought native milkweeds because they are suppose to be better than tropicals.. However the monarchs only land, feed, and lay eggs on the tropicals. Do they only recognize the variety that they were born on?

[@KCBfly25]

No. They will eat any of the milkweeds.

[@danapenaherrera4739]

I raised and released over 150 this season. Last year I found only two cats. This spring my swamp bloomed the first day it bloomed a female showed up ready to deposit her offspring. I chose not to tag this season because it was a learning season. I didn't bleach and I lost 12 to oe some failed to hatch so. e did not pupate completely some failed to fly that really sucked so next season bleach and tag my last one bag hatched 10/01 at 11 am a big beautiful deep orange male .

[@MrLundScience]

Yeah, having a year to keep track of losses to asses if bleaching is necessary in a given location certainly makes sense and gives you some baseline starting data to work with. It can be helpful for future decisions.

[@cesarcarrera7755]

Help!!! I have 2 milkweed plants, and i had 24 monarc caterpillars, i'm running out of food for my caterpillars, and still are half way to make a crysalis. I'm trying really hard to find milk weed . I went to severals nurseries, and they dont have any, so when i went to homedepot i was so happy to find them there. plant looks really healthy, so i rinse it and i gave it to my catherpillars, after an hour my caterpillars started to vomit green liquid, and they were twitching. so i removed the leaves and i google the problem. They were poisoned by pesticides, I felt really mad, sad and stupid for this. I rinsed them and put them on new leaves from my plants, but it was too late, i lost half of my catherpillars. the rest are doing good, the poop is normal and they are eating well. But now i'm almost out of food. I called homedepot and told the lady in the garden dep. about the problem, she said to rinse my plant for a couple of days and then it will be fine to feed the caterpillars. I not sure i want to do that again and risk the rest of my beauties.Please, can you give me any advise, do you think the plant will be free of pesticides after I rinsed it for a couple of days. Thank you for you help and excuse my bad english. (Ontario,California)

[@MrLundScience]

With rinsing, you are physically washing away the residue chemicals, and after some very thorough rinsing, all that's coming off of the leaves is likely to be off. So, if after thoroughly rinsing just once, that still hasn't worked, I honestly don't know that rinsing for multiple days would help much. My first go to would be to not give up on finding natural milkweed out there. I'm not sure where you're at, but in Michigan, the medians of highways have many common milkweed plants. If I were in your position, I'd be going there and doing that, but that's because I'm in Michigan. The second option would be to try and bleach treat the leaves. Bleach is quite effective at reacting with just about anything. That's why it's such a great cleaning agent. Check out the NPV video I made where it shows how to bleach treat. I'd do that to a leaf, offer it to just one cat, and see if that has helped. Good luck!

[@cesarcarrera7755]

Thank you for your time ill try the bleach

[@mell8577]

mr. lund! our family has enjoyed learning from your whole series this year and as I write I'm sitting on our front porch watching our 62nd butterfly pump up her wings. our tagging kit arrived this week and we tagged our first three yesterday. are you tagging again this season? thanks for your clear demonstration of how to grasp the butterflies gently and securely for tagging. I've wondered a couple of things from this aspect of the experience so far: since our porch is not enclosed, how soon is safe to handle them in order not to miss them flying off before we get a chance to apply the sticker? And also, are we sure that firmly pressing on the wings to affix the tag is not damaging the tubes/structures surrounding the cells? I suppose confidence comes with practice but I'd hate for any otherwise-healthy butterflies to be a victim of my learning curve. the ones I've tagged so far seem annoyed afterwards but none the worse for wear. :) thanks for your hard work on all the videos in this series and on your channel in general!

[@MrLundScience]

Greetings Mel! Happy to hear that you've added 60+ Monarchs to the universe! I am the bashfully ashamed behemoth to state...in all the hub-bub that was happening at the time (family stuff...not getting into it...) I totally forgot to order the tags. Realized/remembered when it was too late. A shame, as I really love that part, and would like to someday have a recovery reported. Not this year, I'm afraid. How soon before they can be applied? I think you only have a short window. Once the wings look normal, they still are a bit damp and pliable. If they are damp, the sticker is less likely to stay. It's really tough to judge. By the time it's truly ready for a sticker, it's also ready to fly. I would recommend, if you can, even just putting it in a bucket with a board or something similar to keep it from flying out. Once the wings have straightened and look normal, place it in the bucket with some sticks, and wait an hour or two more for the wings to fully dry. That's my best recommendation other than finding a room in the home where you don't mind a butterfly fluttering about. Are we sure firmly pressing on the wings to affix the tag won't damage the wings? No. Mostly, though, that's a "no" because what once person judges at firm, another might judge as not firm enough. We all press differently. I apply about as much pressure as when I place a stamp on an envelope, if that helps.

[@mell8577]

Thanks for your reply in the midst of back-to-school busy-ness, and yes, it was very helpful. You might still receive tags at this point in time to catch the end of the season, if you're feeling especially guilty. :) They say it takes 5-7 days for them to arrive but ours came much faster. My daughter is using the observations we've gathered over the summer for her science fair project. She's a great help in the tagging process, as she is super at grasping them gently while I apply the sticker, and she loves to fill in the form. We may try placing the almost-ready butterfly in a separate enclosure as long as we're sure we won't be away too long, for we'd hate to have it injure its wings trying to fly out. I wonder if anyone on here has received word that one of their tagged butterflies was found? Best wishes for a great school year!

[@MrLundScience]

You know, you're right. I should just order them. I definitely would still use some, as I've found eggs yesterday and today. Perhaps I'll go 25 instead of 50, though.

[@mell8577]

I think you owe it to science! :D

[@19Photographer76]

Good job as usual. I just tagged the first of my 4th generation group yesterday. If anyone from West of the Rockies contacts you, I can help with tags etc for our West Coast group. I also have seeds for this Fall's planting (shipping charge only).

[@MrLundScience]

Is there a website or email I should direct them too? I didn't know west of the Rockies had tagging. I suppose it'd be silly to not think that they would.

[@19Photographer76]

Email sent. A Facebook group that's very helpful is "Butterflies and Moths of the Pacific Northwest" My email is [e-mail]

[@MrLundScience]

Cool. Thanks. Any westerners interested, I'll send them your way.

[@reelthing4u]

what is the seeds?i know milk weed but which one?

[@reelthing4u]

Asclepias californica is this the right one for the valley of cali

[@briancaleb6503]

Awesome!

[@MrLundScience]

Word.

[@mclasky431]

odd question, but can a monarch chrysalis be put in the fridge to slow development and make the emergence date later? ik some butterfly species can handle this phenomenon but can the monarch?

[@MrLundScience]

I haven't tried this, so I can't say 100%, but I'm fairly certain that they'd do fine. In other words, I myself wouldn't be scared to try it. I know, though, I wouldn't want to slow it down *too* much for the fall migratory generation. The nectar producing flowers are dwindling in number at this time of the year. Each day, there's less, and the route gets more and more difficult down to Mexico as the food dries up.

[@mclasky431]

MrLundScience hey rich, does it matter if the chrysalises are in sunlight. Mine are on the day to emerge , but taking a long time way longer than usual. And this is the first time there not in sun. So logically it just seems the two are connected you know? Let me know

[@MrLundScience]

The honest answer is, I don't know. Never tested it out. What I *do* know, is they are temperature dependent. So, if it's in the sun, it's pretty safe to assume it's at a warmer temp than if not in the sun, unless you are keeping them in a dark, but heated room. Added heat speeds up the chemistry. All chemical reactions are faster when at a higher temperature, as there are more particle collisions, and faster ones, which both lead to more successful particle reactions. Biological chemical reactions are not an exception to this. I keep mine outdoors on the yarn line, as you know, and always near the end of the season when temperatures are less 80's 90's, and more 70's, they go from 9 or 10 days in chrysalis to 11, 12, 13, even 14.

[@mclasky431]

MrLundScience what's the latest time in the day a monarch has emerged

[@MrLundScience]

I had one emerge in the late evening once. Pretty much, the sun was setting while it was emerging.

[@Boogeyman1435]

I use a toothpick to pick up the sticker, then gently roll it onto the wing, while rolling the toothpick out

[@sherrygould7139]

For us newbies you might want to explain what oe is on monarchs

[@KCBfly25]

He does in a separate video.

[@dorothyharrington7791]

Can you use tweezers to remove the tag?

[@LShaver947]

I live in Ontario Canada if I get 4th generation monarchs will they be able to migrate to Mexico from all the way in Canada if not i will not buy the tagging kit

[@MrLundScience]

Oh yes. Absolutely those that are in Canada in late summer or early fall are migratory. Think about it this way... If those later in your season didn't migrate, then they'd just die in the winter, and that'd be a dead end for their genes, and their parents' and grand parents' genes. Such an urge to fly that far north, then, wouldn't be passed on to offspring, and Canada east of the Rockies wouldn't have Monarchs. Does that make sense?

[@hazelyoung7574]

Can you where buy the tag need help please thank you

[@MrLundScience]

These tags are available in the "Store" section of monarchwatch.org That being said, please understand that the time for tagging these Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains is at the start of Fall, around September. Thus, it being January, it is not the season for tagging. Good luck with your efforts!

[@alexstrouse6333]

what if the monarch gets killed and cant find it? is that data just lost?

[@MrLundScience]

Correct. The majority of tags will never be reported. So, hopefully of the 50 I am to do, one or two might actually be reported back. It's part of the painstaking effort involved to get this data.

[@jmwnycprr]

MrLundScience Have you had any tags reported?

[@mr.personality7762]

Ay Rich, do you know if it's possible to capture a swallowtail and encourage them to lay like monarchs? Also, I just had to euthanize a monarch because she had no forewing on her right side, couldn't fly.... What's the craziest diformities you can recall?

[@MrLundScience]

Craziest deformities for me haven't been too crazy. Just folded wings. Some, like three, have come out and you could see, they just weren't going to be alright, even after being pumped with the fluid. Can you encourage Swallowtails? While I can't speak on all, I have done this before with a wild caught Eastern Black Swallowtail in one of the accordion clothes hampers. I had parsley and dill in there, and she laid 30 eggs for me.

[@wildflower1397]

I am in Portland, Oregon and watched every video believing I could never be involved or help because I am West of the Rockies... I worry that others inspired by your videos may make some poor choices by trying to find other ways to help. For example...If someone decided to bring some monarchs here from the East to raise and release them, where would they try to migrate to? Would they bring different parasites that harmed the local population? Please make a video for those of us in the West who want to help.

[@MrLundScience]

I see what you're saying. I certainly hope someone wouldn't collect a significant amount of eastern Monarchs and transpose them into a very different location. I would almost hope that would go without saying, but, never underestimate a person's ability to allow good intentions to lead the way down the path of, let's say, "not so bright ideas". As for a West Coast tailor made video, I have some reservations. How much can a Michigan boy tell those from the West Coast what they should be doing? I think I would feel a bit pretentious in trying to advise people in a location I've only visited once, and not for Monarch reasons. But, we do have many from the West Coast who already use many of these videos. West Coast populations are declining too, so a lot of this information is able to be applied in the East Coast, West Coast, and elsewhere. I've had some chaps from New Zealand recently contacting me, letting me know that they are using much of the info in these videos to raise Monarchs as well. And even though this video on tagging is specific to the Eastern population, to my knowledge there are West Coast groups that have tagging programs as well. I believe that if you contact those here, www.westernmonarchcount.org/about/ , they can let you know about some West Coast tagging programs, and ways you can count and provide data to them.

[@valonzhubi4321]

Hey Rich! Do you know if there is monarchs in Canada?

[@MrLundScience]

Indeed! Though it's only southern Canada, and in the summer. www.google.com/search?q=monarch+butterfly+range&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK-MrFps_ZAhUCwYMKHXInBAIQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=759

[@valonzhubi4321]

Ok thanks again XD

[@LShaver947]

I live in Mississauga there is tons of milkweed and the monarch here!

[@ophadamia2579]

Tried to do this but it detached from wing and rubbed off some scales.

[@fostoriadistrictrailfan3907]

0:02 *monarch screaming noises*

[@ceciliadunn7625]

I left a comment shortly ago and it is gone. Did I do something wrong?

[@MrLundScience]

No...nothing wrong. I don't know that I saw any previous comment that you are referring to. I don't publish comments that contain any foul language or the like. (I don't really get any of those, either.) What did it say?

[@mikegosselin1634]

how do I download the electronic data sheet?

[@MrLundScience]

I'm not sure how to answer this, as I'm not exactly sure what part is giving you the trouble. Are you asking where you go to find the data sheet? Or are you asking how to download something onto your device? If you ordered the tags, there's definitely information that came with them that details where to go online and what to do to download the data sheet. monarchwatch.org has this on their site as well. As far as downloading onto your personal device, while that's generally just clicking on the correct link, it can be different from device to device. Can you be more specific as to what it giving you trouble?

[@irunamuk]

Its all your fault. I blame you. I have 8 monarch caterpillars in various containers around my house and every time I go out to get milkweed to feed them I find more tiny caterpillars that look like they just hatched within the last couple days. I have hundreds of milkweed seeds and a large patch of my front yard is mapped out to be dug up and planted with milkweed for the spring. All I did was watch a few videos one day....

[@irunamuk]

Make that nine.

[@MrLundScience]

I take full responsibility. Cool that you're still finding them in your area. I'm guessing I'm done finding any caterpillars at this point. A few are still out there in my Michigan haunts, but not many.

[@Amelia-sr8yv]

Will you keep using the tags.

[@brucegomezcc1487]

The tags aren't reusable. If you're buying from Monarch watch, they make new tags every year so if you have extras you can't use those for next season.

[@ryanyarbrough1343]

How many Monarchs did you raise this year?

[@MrLundScience]

At this point, I've released 38, but have many more on the way. 36 of those were before tags came in though. I've tagged 2, to date.

[@ryanyarbrough1343]

I'm guessing that's a good number for you? I only raised 12 back in May that were released in the Dallas area.

[@MrLundScience]

For me, the number matters, but the success rate matters more to me. If I take in 1000 (a ridiculous number...I'd never do that), and only release 30, then I'm only at 3% success, which is worse than if I had just let nature do its thing. I've taken in 165 at this point, So, already I'm above nature's success rate, but of course that number will climb as the season comes to a close. I have many caterpillars and chrysalides right now.

[@kimuseni]

Pretty kool Corbin Dallas

[@MrLundScience]

Multi-pass...

[@sekushimitsukai330]

Do the tags interfere with mating? Has anyone studied this?

[@KCBfly25]

No. They don't hurt anything.

[@zenn3339]

. I found a butterfly today still alive on my flowers with a tag on it and today is 9-9-2024

[@jenbailey5399]

Multipass!

[@MrLundScience]

Boooooooom. Ba da booom.

[@unoriginal1086]

Hi

[@MrLundScience]

Hello.

[@MrCubanito1975]

My monarch turn in chrysail

[@ClankyCloverGaming]

Can I just tag them with a sticker that says "I came from California" ?

[@brucegomezcc1487]

No because tagging stickers have adhesive that's designed to be lightweight, and also stay not the butterfly and resist unsticking or damaging it.

[@flARTlife]

You look different

[@MrLundScience]

"The only thing constant is change." - Heraclitus

[@denisfortier2406]

Rich, Not just in southern Canada, 4th generation come as far as Notre-Dame-de-Pontmain,Québec Canada 46.312748, -75.539280. Not a migration map show this destination. Maps should be redone.

[@MrLundScience]

I would agree, the maps should be redone. I looked up exactly where that is, and see...to my American eyes, that still looks like Southern Canada. Not being a Canadian, I suppose I don't really know where Canadians draw the imaginary south vs. north line across their country. I only have said "southern" because it was below an imaginary horizontal line that would divide the nation in half. My apologies if those in that location consider that northern Canada, or mid-something... In Michigan, many Americans consider this the "Midwest" region, but, to me, the Midwest would be places like Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas. We're certainly not anything that could be considered the East Coast, but I think the culture is rather different comparing an area like Michigan to, say, Missouri. I prefer to refer to Michigan as part of the Great Lakes Region, as with any other State that has a coastline with any of the Great Lakes (in which case, I suppose the State of New York counts as both).

[@Amelia-sr8yv]

Or should you use them a the time

[@aAaAAA-ppgg]

Wooow that's some hero complex you have there. You're not helping those animals, you're helping the research. Get your phrasing right.