Southwest Monarch Study How To

Participate Male monarch nectaring on Rabbitbrush

The locations of our recoveries so far The Southwest Monarch Study is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Citizen Science organization. Visit us on-line for more information about creating monarch habitats, educational opportunities, Join Us! Monitoring conservation projects and research projects The monarch butterfly is the jewel of the butterfly Each spring monarchs leave their overwintering you can join. Your donations help keep tags and world and best known for its long range migration. sites in Mexico and and begin to breed programs free to the public. The Southwest Monarch Study is studying the across the Southwest. Some of these monarchs breeding patterns and migration destination of will stay in the higher elevations of the Southwest Thank you for your support! monarchs in the Southwestern United States for the summer while others may continue to the including , , , , northern tier of the United States and even Canada. Western Colorado and the deserts of Southern You can help us learn when milkweed, the In partnership with: California. As a Citizen Science study everyone is monarchs’ only host , first appears in your area Conserving the Migration The Southwest invited to participate. No eort is too small. and when monarchs first arrive to lay eggs. By Monarch Study in the Southwest monitoring breeding habitats in nearby nature areas and your yard we can learn an important A Citizen-Science study dedicated Tagging piece of the breeding pattern. to monarch butterfly research and Every fall monarchs begin their long migration journey to Mexico and California. Join in tagging conservation in the Southwestern monarchs to discover their migration destination. Testing Southwest Monarch Study United States It only takes a single tag to get a recovery in By testing monarchs in your area for OE www.swmonarchs.org Mexico or California. (A recovery is when a (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) we can learn Brochure design was donated by monarch you tagged is found in another location.) more about the prevalence of this infection in Brian Morris of BrianMorrisDesign.com We never know who will find a new piece to the the Southwest. This is easy to do and doesn’t monarch migration puzzle! harm monarchs. ©2016 Southwest Monarch Study. www.swmonarchs.org Visit our website for an online version of this [email protected] Like more information? Email [email protected] brochure you can reproduce and distribute. Monarchs Native Milkweeds

at Risk? While the number of monarchs normally vary Arizona Colorado (Western) from year to year, the long term trend is Lower Deserts Showy Milkweed, speciosa downward. Researchers continue to study this Desert (Rush) Milkweed, Asclepias subulata Horsetail Milkweed, Asclepias subverticillata decline and theories include the loss of habitat, Needle Milkweed, Asclepias linaria Antelope Horns, Asclepias asperula increased use of insecticides and herbicides, Arizona Milkweed, Asclepias angustifolia Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa roadside mowing, long term drought and weather extremes. Scientists have determined that the Middle & High Elevations monarch migration is at risk. There will likely Antelope Horns, Asclepias asperula Nevada always be monarchs but the survival of their long Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa Southern Nevada range migration is of great concern. Horsetail Milkweed, Asclepias subverticillata Desert Milkweed, Asclepias erosa Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa Desert (Rush) Milkweed, Asclepias subulata Antelope Horns, Asclepias asperula Create a California (Southern Deserts) Northern Nevada Desert (Rush) Milkweed, Asclepias subulata Narrowleaf Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis Migration – Monarch Habitat Desert Milkweed, Asclepias erosa Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa Draw monarchs to your yard as well at schools, Fuel for the Journey city parks, libraries, churches and public buildings. Monarch caterpillars on Desert (Rush) Milkweed New Mexico In Fall monarch butterflies begin their long journey Here is what you need: Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa to the overwintering sites. Migrating monarchs Antelope Horns, Asclepias asperula are not breeding, instead they need rich nectar to • Trees or tall for shelter, shade, a place to Horsetail Milkweed, Asclepias subverticillata fuel their long flight. Look for monarchs along rivers spend the night and protection from predators. Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa and streams. Plant pockets of Common Sunflower Look for monarchs on the southeast side of trees, Broadleaf Milkweed, Asclepias latifolia (Helianthus annuus), and trails of Rabbitbrush waiting to warm in the morning sun. (Ericameria spp.), in their native range as well as • Milkweed is the monarchs’ only host plant. A host Utah Thistles ( spp.), Asters (Aster spp.), and Goldenrod (Solidago spp.). plant is where a butterfly lays their eggs. Plant Northern Utah several native milkweeds. Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa Antelope Horns, Asclepias asperula In the lower deserts monarchs favor milkweeds • Monarchs will lay eggs on milkweed before they still in bloom, Common Sunflower (Helianthus Southern Utah are in bloom. Plant flowers that monarchs favor annuus), Tithonia, Asters (Aster spp.), Sweetbush Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa for nectar that bloom in the spring, summer and ( juncea) and Desert Broom (Baccharis Antelope Horns, Asclepias asperula especially for the fall migration. sarothroides) on their migration. They will also Horsetail Milkweed, Asclepias subverticillata visit lantana, butterflybush, zinnias, cosmos and • During hot and dry weather monarchs in the Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa other garden specialties in home gardens. Southwest will often be found puddling. Broadleaf Milkweed, Asclepias latifolia