Tags on Monarchs

[Bfly Guy]

I was curious about the tags on the Monarchs. If I see a tagged monarch where would the tags be found on the wings? A specific location on the wings where they would be seen? And what color are the tags?
Thanks

[monofarch]

The tags are about the size of a paper punch and are white with black type. They are supposed to be placed on the center area of the hindwing on the side visible when the wings are closed.

[Jim]

Monofarch's correct; here are the specifics...

The tags are made from a white polypropylene all-weather stock. They are circular (.89cm), lightweight (<.01g), and printed with black permanent ink. The tags are placed over the discal cell, a large mitten-shaped cell on the underside of a monarch's hindwing (instructions and diagrams are included in the Tagging Kits). Here's a graphic from this year's datasheet:



The text on the 2004 tags reads:

TAG @ KU.EDU
MONARCH WATCH
1-888-TAGGING
XXX ### (unique tag code)

[Teresa]

I've had some monarchs this year so small the tag took up most of it's wing. That worried me so I stopped tagging the small ones and just set them free. If you do tag that small of a butterfly does the tag hold them back?

[dannus plex]

Hi Teresa,
Just wondering, I am surprised you are finding such small Monarchs. Your not tagging Viceroys by mistake, are you?? They do look somewhat similar.

[jasmon]

I read that tags coud be purchased at the Monarch Watch store but I did not see any tags for sale. Where exactly can I buy tags for Monarchs?

Monofarch's correct; here are the specifics...

The tags are made from a white polypropylene all-weather stock. They are circular (.89cm), lightweight (<.01g), and printed with black permanent ink. The tags are placed over the discal cell, a large mitten-shaped cell on the underside of a monarch's hindwing (instructions and diagrams are included in the Tagging Kits). Here's a graphic from this year's datasheet:



The text on the 2004 tags reads:

TAG @ KU.EDU
MONARCH WATCH
1-888-TAGGING
XXX ### (unique tag code)

[Sarah]

2006 tags will be available soon (by the end of next week). ***Important info: tags will not be sent to areas west of the Rocky Mountains. 2006 tags will not being shipping until August.***

They can be ordered through the online shop
(http://shop.monarchwatch.org) or by calling 1-800-780-9986.

[Jewel]

Not being sent to areas west of the Rockies? What the? Why not??? We are raising Monarchs over here in Gilroy and I'm not sure if my colleagues are planning to tag, but if we do (and we should, I think), where else can we get tags?

Btw...hello! I love Monarch Watch.

[Jim]

Hi Jewel:

Welcome to the Forums!

We do not send tags or monarch larvae west of the Continental Divide. Please see the following forum topic for a little more information:

www.monarchwatch.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=418

Hope this helps!

[Jewel]

How sad. I think that's totally wrong.

From the page you linked me to:

Because scientists don’t know whether the monarchs east and west of the Rockies are genetically different, every effort is being made not to move monarchs from one side of the Rockies to the other. However, both populations are thought to represent the same species.

I think this is a perfect argument for tagging on the West Coast. Last season we released well over 500 Monarchs at Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park. Imagine if we'd been able to tag them!!! It would have been simply amazing to see if any came back to us. This year we have expanded our Monarch Butterfly education program. And in addition to the milkweed we already had planted at the Park, we are also supplementing it with more that we are growing from seed. We are hoping our Monarch population far exceeds what it was last year.

[ButterflyLdy]

Are there no Monarch organizations in California that tag? I know that Monarchs West of the Rockies don't migrate to Mexico, but do their overwintering in Southern California.

When we lived in Boise, Idaho, I worked with my neighbor who spent the summer raising monarchs. My children and I helped her tag the butterflies for several years.

Also, I do know that milkweed suppliers west of the rockies don't ship to the east and vice versa -- though that is most likely due to pests. Monarch egg suppliers follow the same practice.

Rebecca
http://www.librarylady.us/butterflylady.html

[Jewel]

Rebecca, I've never been able to find any. I wonder where your neighbor got her tags. Actually, I've been wondering how we could get our own made.

Our weather is so mild, I have a feeling ours only go as far as Pacific Grove, if that. For all I know, they could stay around Gilroy.

(Btw, I love your site. Your slide show is great!)

[Paul Cherubini]

How sad. I think that's totally wrong.

In the early fall of 1999, thousands of monarchs that were reared in California were tagged and shipped for release at points slightly east and west of the Continental Divide. Dozens were recaptured at the overwintering sites in both California and central Mexico
http://www.swallowtailfarms.com/pages/e ... s_mms.html

[Mona Miller]

There is a group in CA that tags called the Monarch Program:
http://www.monarchprogram.org/index.htm
Main Website
http://www.monarchprogram.org/tagging.htm
Tagging

[Paul Cherubini]

There is a group in CA that tags called the Monarch Program: http://www.monarchprogram.org/index.htm
Main Website http://www.monarchprogram.org/tagging.htm
Tagging

I was a former board member of the Monarch Program. The Program essentially shut down it's tagging program and stopped distributing Monarch Progam tags back around 1999.

[Mona Miller]

http://www.gilroygardens.org/butterfly.html
Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, CA tagged in 2006, they did not tag in 2007 due to the lack of Monarchs, they plan to tag in 2008 if there are enough Monarchs.