Monarch Butterfly Migration Tracked with New Technology, Presented by Patrick Adair

Washington State University (WSU) research on Monarch butterfly migration corridors through Idaho is using new tracking technology with citizen science field support from WingsRising, Inc., a local non-profit organization led by Patrick Adair. Patrick explains how volunteers are helping track rare Monarch butterflies equipped with a tiny telemetry transmitter that weighs just 60 milligrams called “Blu+Morpho.” It uses solar energy and Bluetooth technology rather than a battery, and location transmissions are picked up in real time through via cell phones. Leading the WSU research is entomologist Dr. David James, who has been working for over a decade to determine the migratory corridors used by monarchs during their fall migration from Idaho to California, the Southwest, or Mexico. The new light-weight technology and help from volunteers may finally provide some answers.