This monarch was photographed in Rosston, AR in the fall of 1994. It is resting briefly on the hood of a parked automobile.

Tracking the Fall Migration of the Monarch Butterfly

Comparative and Physiological Psychology Field Exercise

Southern Arkansas University--Magnolia

Created by:

Edward P. Kardas

Updated: 2023-08-23

 


Introduction

I have used this exercise successfully for a number of years. It can only be done during the Fall. Monarchs migrate to wintering locations in central Mexico from wherever they happen to be in the rest of North America. Baker (1982) provides a map that sshows the distribution of monarchs in North America by month. Migration begins in late August in the northern reaches of the continent, and is essentially completed in the rest of the continent by late November. Until students are made aware of the migration, they usually fail to notice it. After, however, they will likely notice the migrating monarchs for the rest of their lives.

Phase I (Late September)

Phase II (After September 30, 2023)

References

Baker, R. R. (1982). Migration: Paths through space and time. New York: Holmes & Meier.

Kingsolver, J. G. (1985). Butterfly engineering. Scientific American, 253(2), 106-113.

MacArthur, R. H. (1972). Geographical ecology; patterns in the distribution of species. New York: Harper & Row.

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