Important Links

Monarch Sites - General

• Journey North - a site devoted to tracking the migrations of many wildlife species
• The Monarch Butterfly in North America - a web site from the USDA Forest Service with biology, citizen science activities, conservation, lesson plans, resources and more.
• MonarchWatch - a comprehensive site dedicated to education, conservation, and research on monarchs
• The Reppert Lab - Dr. Steven M. Reppert and his associates at the University of Massachusetts Medical School use anatomical, cellular, molecular, electrophysiological, genetic and behavioral approaches to more fully understand the biological basis of monarch migration, with a focus on the butterfly's navigational abilities and its distinctive circadian clock. Their website is intended as a resource and a gateway for monarch lovers of all stripes (and spots).

Monarch Citizen Science

• Monarch Larva Monitoring Project - help track the distribution and abundance of monarch eggs and larvae throughout the monarch breeding range
• Southwest Monarch Project - is studying the migration patterns of Monarch Butterflies in Arizona. They are working to 1) identify and describe the migration behavior of monarchs as they travel through the southwestern United States each fall, 2) provide a meaningful research project for citizen scientists of all ages throughout Arizona, and 3) encourage and monitor monarch conservation activities in Arizona. One of the most exciting findings documented by this project is recoveries of monarchs tagged in Arizona in both Mexico and California.
• Journey North - help to track the migrations of many wildlife species, including monarchs
• Monarch Watch - track migrating monarchs as part of a continent-wide tagging program
• North American Butterfly Association - participate in the annual 4th of July Butterfly count
• Driven to Discover Videos - UMN Extension - This short video series describes the University of Minnesota Extension Driven to Discover project and getting youth involved in citizen science. Hear from the youth about their projects and learn what scientists are doing to help!

Monarch Education

• Monarchs and Migration - learn more about monarch migration, run by the Science Museum of Minnesota
• Monarchs Across Georgia - engages schools and families in learning experiences involving monarchs and other native butterflies. The Monarchs Across Georgia program promotes stewardship of the natural environment through multi-disciplinary exploration and scientific investigation.
• William Zittrich's Monarch Photos - many great photos of monarchs

Monarch Conservation

• Monarch Joint Venture - a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic programs that are working together to support and coordinate efforts to protect the monarch migration across the lower 48 United States.
• Ecotourism: A Tool for Sustainable Development - an informational article on ecotourism issues
• Forests For Monarchs - Dedicated to forest restoration and promoting sustainable forest management in Central Mexico to benefit the people and other creatures who depend on the forests, as well as to assure a healthy planet for future generations.

Butterfly Sites

• Butterflies and Moths of North America - is an ambitious effort to collect and provide access to quality-controlled data about butterflies and moths for the continent of North America from Panama to Canada
• The Butterfly Site - a clearinghouse for butterfly-related websites and resources
• The Butterfly Website - a lot of information on butterfly gardening, farming, ecology and education
• Children's Butterfly Site - a lot of information on butterflies, includes activities geared toward children
• Judy Istock Butterfly Haven - Even in the middle of a Chicago winter, the 2,700 square-foot greenhouse is filled with butterflies. Transport yourself to a spectacular habitat, flourishing with tropical trees, glimmering pools of water, flowers, and butterflies.
• North American Butterfly Association - a site dedicated to increasing public enjoyment and conservation of butterflies
• Tactics and Vectors:  Research on Butterfly Migration - a site devoted to promoting field studies on flight tactics and the navigation of migrating butterflies in North America
• http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/ - This site has wonder photos of most stages of several butterflies that occur in Dallas County, including monarchs and all of their close relatives.

Butterfly Gardening Sites

• Bring Back the Butterflies Campaign - has a guide to making gardens by region
• Ecoregional Planting Guides - Selecting Plants for Pollinators - Invite pollinators to your neighborhood. Plant a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden.

Insect Sites

• The Xerces Society - a site focused on public education about invertebrates
• BugGuide.Net - online resource devoted to North American insects, spiders and their kin, offering identification, images, and information.
• North America Pollinator Protection Campaign - encourages the health of resident and migratory pollinating animals in North America
• Our Future Flies on the Wings of Pollinators - U.S. Forest Service site contains information about a variety of pollinators as well as information about pollination, plant pollination strategies, pollinator syndromes, pollinator friendly practices, gardening for pollinators, and more.
• Pollinators - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site has information on pollinators, threats, how to help, education materials, links, and more.

Milkweed Sites

• Milkweed Diversity
• BONAP's North American Plant Atlas - Select a link for county-level or state-level maps, then "list by genus", then "Asclepias" for maps showing predominance of various milkweed varieties.
• USDA guide to US milkweed species