Tagging-Is it as easy as it sounds

[tartandtiny]

This will be my first year to Tag. I am still awaiting my tag kit. Any advice on how to proceed once I receive it? I purchased 15 tags -- but I do have more cats than that.

Should I tag any specific butterfly over another? Large vs. Small - Male vs. Female?

I would love to hear back from anyone who has a lot of experience in this.

[Mona Miller]

Large, any sex (male or female), reared or wild.

I recommend allowing wings to dry at least 24 hours on reared. Have every thing ready before you pick up the butterfly. Use a toothpick and have the tag ready before you pick up the butterfly. Use the toothpick to remove the tag. Don't touch it without your hands. The oils from your hands can prevent the tag from adhering properly. I just catch a small edge of the tag with the toothpick. Place it in the right place over the discal cell--website below has a picture. Press gently. If you press too hard, the tag will catch your skin and pull off (oops).

http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/tag.htm
Info on tagging.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jGhUAYi ... re=related
She shows you how to hold the butterfly, but please don't handle the tag, use a toothpick.

[tartandtiny]

Very helpful information. I will be certain to use a toothpick.

Thank you

[texas butterfly]

I hope so. Sounds like it should be much easier than tagging hummingbirds.
If the little butterflies will just cooperate.

I can see injury potential if running around chasing Butterflies.

Watch were you step.

[joann0811]

I just tagged and released 6 yesterday afternoon with one escape (7 total). It was much easier than I had anticipated although my husband was helping me. I had wanted to wait for all 9 to emerge but one of the wings on one had torn. I knew it would be able to fly, but I didn't want to risk any more damage. Hopefully I'll be releasing the rest this weekend.

[Mona Miller]

I am covering mine inside with a black plastic bag. Or place them into a dark room. This keeps them quiet and not banging themselves against the containers. Less wing damage.

[texas butterfly]

In one of my habitats the butterflies seemed more calm.
This habitat is harder to see into.

The ones that are easier to see into seemed to have jumpier butterflies.

As I had read putting them into a dark area does seem to calm them down.

So, I'm just putting them into a lower traffic room and that helps too.

[Mona Miller]

I mist them to give them water, too. But, the best thing to do is when their wings are dry, tag them, and let them go. The butterflies that are emerging now have a very long journey ahead of them.

[Paul Cherubini]

The monarchs that are emerging in Texas In August and early Sept. will be short lived reproductive butterflies, not diapausers, so they will not be journeying to Mexico for the winter.

[JFS61]

So should those of us in Texas hold off awhile before tagging?

[texas butterfly]

I think the instructions say start tagging in September and we are almost there. I have tags and I have butterflies so I've started tagging. I wish that I had more tags, but didn't know that I'd have this many butterflies.

I do have a bunch of Ruby Throats hummingbirds currently migrating through, so seems the fall migration has started.

And I'm seeing lots of other birds flying overhead and they appear to be migrators also.

[tartandtiny]

I have 22 chrysalys -- They should emerge this week and in two weeks -- two different batches. I also have two cats - 3rd stage and just found 2 eggs yesterday. I wonder if the egg cats will pupate in time for migration?

I plan to use all my tags, I only have 15.

[Mona Miller]

Tag the larger butterflies. They have a very long journey and the larger, stronger ones will make it.