Tagging a monarch butterfly

Logging tagging information. My Monarch is 429.

Here's hoping Monarch butterfly No. SGS 429 makes it to Mexico.

Tagged Monarchs

429 seemed unhappy after I picked him up for OE testing and tagging. Being warned not to let our butterflies to get loose in the high ceiling building, I held his wings tight while his legs squirmed in all directions.

He also may have been miffed because at first I identified him as a she until the dots on the freshly emerged Monarch's wings were pointed out.

The workshop at La Marque's Carbide Park was preparation for Monarch tagging season, Aug. 20-Dec. 1. The monarchwatch.org program aims to get data on Monarch migration by recapturing the tagged fliers.

The delicate-looking butterflies are tougher than I imagined they would be. When one Monarch's wing was bent during the tagging, the instructor made a splint with Scotch tape.

While resilient after careful handing, Monarchs are susceptible to a killer parasite that is easily spread. The OE testing program begins in December to help track the parasite's progress. -- Lana b

The release.