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Monarch butterflies get tiny trackers to help scientists follow their mysterious migration
Nearly 1,750 butterflies were tagged this year as scientists seek migration routes and stopover sites before habitat loss erases them.
- Scientists are attaching solar-powered radio tags to nearly 1,750 monarch butterflies this year to track their migration routes across North America, finally uncovering stopover locations that have remained mysterious for decades.
- Pesticides and climate change have driven monarch populations down more than 80% since the mid-1990s. "Pesticides are a pervasive threat," said Tierra Curry, senior scientist and endangered species codirector with the Center for Biological Diversity.
- Developed by Cellular Tracking Technologies, the new $200 tags weigh about as much as a drop of water. David La Puma, vice president of global market development for the company, said most tagged butterflies weigh more than 400 milligrams to ensure they remain safe.
- Since migration started this year, about 175 tagged butterflies have been detected in Mexico. Researchers discovered previously unknown paths, including monarchs in Utah and others migrating down the Eastern Seaboard to Florida, according to findings.
- Highway nets in Texas are encouraging monarchs to fly higher to avoid traffic, while mass milkweed plantings supported by the National Wildlife Federation boost local populations. These conservation efforts proceed despite federal protection delays ordered by courts for final decision by 2030.
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Monarch butterflies get tiny trackers to help scientists follow their mysterious migration – WTOP News
As a child, Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón wondered where monarch butterflies stop for a meal and a night’s rest on their long migrations across North America. Now she and other scientists are attaching tiny tracking devices to hundreds of butterflies to find those critical stopover locations before they disappear. Swarms of dazzling orange-and-black monarchs use environmental cues...
·Chevy Chase, United States
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
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