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Monarch Health

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Athens, GA
Monarch Health

Monarch Health: A community science project where volunteers across North America monitor the health of wild monarchs.

We collaborate with particpants to track the spread of the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha over geographic space and through time. Monarch Health is a community science project to track the prevalence of the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) in monarch butterflies. This parasite does not infect humans but can make butterflies sick: Monarchs infected with OE often do not fly

as well or live as long as uninfected monarchs. Infected monarchs may look deformed after they emerge from their chrysalis, or they may appear completely normal. To test monarchs for OE infection, volunteer participants (1) Obtain wild adult monarchs by either catching or rearing them, and (2) Press a clear sticker against the monarchs' abdomen to collect any parasites (which are external at this stage). Monarchs are then released, entirely unharmed. At the Altizer lab at the University of Georgia, we examine each sample using a microscope to detect OE parasites. We share all results with participants, answer questions about monarch diseases, and send free sampling kits to volunteers.

04/01/2025

🦋 Butterflies in Trouble! U.S. Populations Drop by 22% 📉💔

A new study in Science reveals that butterfly populations across the U.S. have declined by 22% since 2000! 😢 That means for every 5 butterflies seen back then, only 4 remain today. Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change are major threats to these pollinators. Read more about the research findings and what you can do with the link in our bio!

03/25/2025

🦋 Monarch Butterflies Make a Comeback in Mexico—But Need Our Help! 🌿✨
Great news! The latest census shows monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico have doubled from last year, covering 4.42 acres! 📈 But don’t celebrate just yet—numbers are still far below historic levels. Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change continue to threaten these migratory marvels. Want to help? 🌱 Plant milkweed & nectar flowers, reduce pesticide use, participate in community science projects, and support habitat for pollinators! Together, we can keep the skies fluttering with monarchs for generations to come! 💛🧡 Check out the Xerces article in our bio for more information!

03/11/2025

That dark coloration on a monarch pupa? It might not be normal! OE-infected pupae develop asymmetrical dark patches under the cuticle about 3 days before emergence, while healthy monarchs show symmetrical pigment patterns as they mature. 🧐✨
Not all dark spots mean trouble—injuries can also cause black marks—but OE’s signature greyish, uneven spread is a key warning sign. Stay observant and help protect our fluttery friends! 💛
Pictures:
1: healthy pupa
2: infected pupa
3: infected pupa with wound
Check out our website for more information! 🦋
https://www.monarchparasites.org/

03/05/2025

Thank you to our incredible 2024 Project Monarch Health volunteers! 🦋 Your dedication helps us track patterns of monarch infection with a debilitating protozoan disease. During 2024, we received over 2,000 samples from over 75 volunteers —each one a valuable piece of the puzzle. If you haven’t sent in your samples yet, there’s still time! Every submission counts. 📩

02/25/2025

Did you know that this year’s count of western North American monarchs at their wintering sites along the California coast showed that numbers declined to the second-lowest count since 1997? Learn more about how these counts are organized and what the data show here: https://www.xerces.org/press/western-monarch-butterfly-population-declines-to-near-record-low

02/20/2025

✨🦋STEM Night Fun at Colham Ferry Elementary!
We had an amazing time teaching families about monarch butterflies, their incredible migration, and the challenges they face from parasites and disease. Hands-on learning sparks curiosity and helps inspire the next generation of monarch protectors!💡🌻

Did you visit a Monarch Butterfly outreach event this year? Share your favorite moments below!

02/19/2025

Did you know that the Project Monarch Health team offers virtual presentations, tours of our UGA research lab, and Q&A sessions with experts? We've connected with over a dozen classrooms during the past two years to share insights on monarch migration, life cycle, parasite interactions, and more! Interested educators can visit our webpage at www.monarchparasites.org and schedule a tour under "Resources for Educators."

02/18/2025

🦋 Monarchs & Tachinid Flies – A Hidden Battle 🦠 Did you know monarch caterpillars can be parasitized by tachinid flies? These parasitoids lay their eggs on small caterpillars, and the fly maggots develop inside the caterpillars’ bodies, ultimately preventing them from reaching adulthood. Tachinid flies are a natural part of the ecosystem, and an important piece of the complex web of interactions that monarchs have with plants, microbes, birds, and other insects. Tachinid flies are ubiquitous throughout the monarchs’ range, and their impact on monarchs is still being studied. Understanding monarch-enemy interactions helps us learn more about how monarchs navigate the challenges they face in the wild. Learn more about tachinid flies in the FAQ section of our website here: https://www.monarchparasites.org/frequently-asked-questions

Have you ever observed tachinid fly parasitism in monarchs? Share your experiences!

Photo 1: adult tachinid fly Lespesia
Photo 2: infected caterpillar with the mucus threads hanging off
Photo 3: tachinid pupae (dark brown ovals)

10/29/2024

Calling all Project Monarch Health volunteers! 🦋 🌿 We are excited to see your fall samples coming in this month. We've received samples from Texas, New Jersey, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan, to name a few states. If you sampled monarchs for infection by the protozoan OE during spring summer or fall of 2024, please mail us your samples and data sheets before the end of the year. We can't wait to fill up the 2024 data book and see what the patterns show for OE infection in wild monarchs this year. 🐛 🌼

10/11/2024

🦋🔥 California’s monarchs are in a heated struggle! This article highlights how record-breaking temps and the OE parasite 🦠 are affecting these butterflies—and features some of our lab’s research including how monarchs and parasites respond to rising temperatures. 📊🌡️
Read about it using this link: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/09102024/western-monarchs-record-breaking-heat-waves/

09/13/2024

🌼🐝 Buzzing with excitement at the SE Pollinator Census! 🦋🌻 This important event helps us track the health and diversity of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects that are essential for our ecosystems. Huge thanks to Transylvania Garden Club members Kim Antrim and Betsy Grant for leading the way for a pollinator census count at the Depot Gardens in Brevard, NC! 🌿🦋 Thank you to all volunteers for making this day a success! 🌺🐞 🌸🦋

09/11/2024

🦋🐜 Get ready to bug out at the 35th Annual Insectival! 🐞🕷️ Join us on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia 🌿 for a fun-filled day celebrating our six-legged friends! 🦗 Enjoy hands-on activities, live insect displays, and educational booths, sponsored by UGA’s Lund Club, Dept. of Entomology, Clarke Central’s Arthropod Club, and Georgia Museum of Natural History. 🎉 Tickets are $5 per person or $20 per family 👨‍👩‍👧 More info at botgarden.uga.edu

Address

Athens, GA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(706) 542-3485

Website

https://linktr.ee/projectmonarchhealth

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