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Monarch Identification Bookmark/Chart
This 2-sided chart can be used to identify the sex of adult butterflies, the instar stages of caterpillars and to help find monarch eggs. Available on this website and Art Fire.
Monarch Butterfly Posters & Photos
Several monarch butterfly photos are available as posters and giclee photos on this website, Fine Art America, and Art Fire.
Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis Poster
This educational poster includes 33 photos with commentary that highlight the differences between the sexes, an example of common milkweed, a monarch egg hatching, a caterpillar shedding its skin, the 5 instar stages, a caterpillar changing to a chrysalis, the changes in the chrysalis, and the butterfly emerging. Great for butterfly buffs. Perfect for teachers, especially if you raise monarchs in your classroom. Various sizes are available on this website, Art Fire, Cafe Press, and Fine Art America.
Shane’s Monarch Book, 2nd Edition
My son loves small books and he wanted a picture book of the monarchs. So I made one ACEO sized. This 14 page book has photos showing the metamorphosis cycle. I let Shane help pick the photos, so some are different from the poster. 2.5"x3.5". Available on this website and Art Fire.
It all started on a family hike in July 2007 when Shane said, "Look, a monarch caterpillar!" He was right! He had learned about the life cycle of monarchs in Kindergarten and had received a book on insects for his 6th birthday from Aunt Angela. And so, the caterpillar came home with us and was the start of an ongoing family project. Actually, it has become a bit of an obsession. At times, I have sacrificed sleep in order to get the photos I wanted -- you have to live on the monarch’s schedule. This is an awesome transformation that we wish to share with you.
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The monarch segment of my website is meant to a photo journal of our experience with monarchs and I will include information that seems relevant or interesting. If you would like a more scientific discussion of monarchs, there are links on these pages and at the bottom of this page to sites run by monarch biologists. You can also follow our adventure through Facebook and Twitter. Valerie, Joel and Shane Evanson P.S. To the left you will find the Windows Media Player video that was made by Shane as a 3rd grade project on family traditions. It was a surprize Christmas present (2009) . Click on play (the white arrow) to hear and see Shane’s short presentation. |
Starting in 2008, we decided to approach raising monarchs in a more scientific way. Our butterflies are checked for Oe with a microscope (Celestron 44340) before releasing them, and record all of our data on Excel spreadsheets. The data is then submitted to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) website.
2008 Monarch Study: click to check out our general rearing data and procedures for the study. We wanted to know the average days of each stage, and here is what we found:
| Stage | Number of Monarchs Studied |
Average Days for Stage |
| Egg: Collection to Hatching | 43 | 2.4 |
| 1st Instar | 40 | 2.9 |
| 2nd Instar | 51 | 2.2 |
| 3rd Instar | 53 | 2.3 |
| 4th Instar | 56 | 2.7 |
| 5th Instar | 51 | 4.9 |
| Hatch Date to Pupa Formation | 34 | 15 |
| Pupa Formation to Eclosion | 41 | 10.7 |
| Hatch Date to Eclosion | 25 | 25.9 |
2009 Monarch Study: Our 2009 study has drawn to a close and the tallies are listed. We collected over 400 monarchs! We tried to grow common milkweed from cuttings, but were unsuccessful. We found that tropical and swamp milkweed eagerly rooted in water. Butterfly weed may root in water. The highlight of the season was the day we released 18 butterflies at once.
2010 Monarch Study: Our season started 4/10/10. We have added a variety of milkweed to the yard this year and are doing the MLMP milkweed study (4a Plants with Monarchs) and Project MonarchHealth for the first time. This year we want to see which milkweed variety the monarchs prefer. I am now posting the Excel sheets that I use to track our data.
Here is a sample of my original paintings where butterflies are the subject. All of these pieces have been sold. To see if there is any new butterfly original artwork, go to my Original Drawings and Paintings for Sale page.
These websites will give you more information on monarchs or monarch items for sale. I have noted if I am involved with projects listed below or have purchased items from them. Sites may be listed more than once below and I have tried to make the landing page correspond to the category.
Monarch Monitoring Programs
Journey North Tracks the migration of a variety of species including monarchs. We participate in this program.
Monarch Watch Extensive biological information on monarchs. We get our tagging kits through this group and our yard is a certified Monarch Waystation.
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) We participate in this watch program. Great info on monarchs.
Monarch Lab Various monarch projects developed at the University of Minnesota (MLMP is one of the projects).
Monarch Parasites.org Lots of info on monarch diseases. We participate in their Project MonarchHealth.
Monarchs in Texas Monarchs are tracked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife department.
The Monarch Butterfly in North America put together by several US federal agencies to serve as a gateway for monarch news, education and info.
North American Butterfly Association NABA tracks all the butterflies.
Southwest Monarch Study Do monarchs from Arizona migrate? This study probes that question.
Wisconsin Milkweed Ozone Study Studying milkweed helps to monitor ozone damage.
Monarchs Across Georgia Projects for people from the state of Georgia.
Monarch Eggs, Larvae and Butterflies for Sale
The USDA restricts the sale of monarchs east and west of the Rockies due to aphids and I will mention this if I see it listed on the site. Be prepared to pay for overnight shipping -- live organisms should be shipped this way.
Monarch Magic Larvae kit. Ships east of the Rockies.
Monarch Store From the University of Minnesota. Eggs and larvae for sale.
Butterflybushes.com You can purchase eggs and caterpillars from this website. Ships to certain states east of the Rockies.
Educational Science You can purchase eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies from this website. They also sell special monarch food and a disinfectant for disease problems. Ships to the continental US.
Live Monarchs You can purchase eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies from this website east of the Rockies. They have a partner in CA that sometimes is able to ship west of the Rockies.
Monarch Watch Caterpillars ship east of the Rockies.
Whispering Wings Farm Butterflies for sale.
Butterflies Etc. Eggs, larvae, chrysalises and butterflies. Ships east of the Rockies.
Association for Butterflies Want to try your hand at butterfly farming? You should read through this site. Butterflies are very time consuming and require 24/7 care even if you are doing it for fun (which is what I do). If you want to do it for profit, then you will need special permits in addition to the right environment and equipment.
Milkweed Seeds and Plants for Sale
See the bottom of the Milkweed page for a list.
Monarch Monitoring/Rearing Supplies and Gifts for Sale
Evanson Art Monarch Items You can check out my page of monarch posters and archival photos. Includes posters on the life cycle of the monarch and a bookmark that helps you identify the monarch stages in the field. For original artwork, check out the Original Paintings and Drawings for Sale page. Calendars, mugs, clothing, cards, and posters are available at my Cafe Press Stores and will soon be available at my Zazzle store.
Monarch Store Books, teaching materials, workshops, monitoring materials and more from the University of Minnesota.
Butterflybushes.com Jewelry, garden decor, and rearing kits.
Educational Science Teaching materials, gifts, books, videos, equipment for raising monarchs, scientific equipment, artificial monarch food and more.
Milkweed Farm Books, videos, stuff for raising butterflies.
Monarch Watch Books, cloths, gardening, gifts, artificial monarch food and tags.
Insect Lore Shop Painted lady kits, kids toys.
Butterfly & Nature Gifts Store Lots of great kids stuff.
Butterfly Buzz nice selection of books, apparel, jewelry, art and more. This site supports the NABA.
Butterfly and Bug Books
As you start looking for monarchs, you will find other eggs, caterpillars and insects and find yourself wondering what they are. So, I am going to list the books that we use instead of an exhaustive list on monarchs or other insects. I love having a bunch of refence books available, as you can see. The more photos and illustrations, the better. You should be able to find these at some of the stores listed above (under Monarch Monitoring/Rearing Supplies and Gifts for Sale), Amazon, eBay or through your local bookstore.
600 Butterflies & Moths by W. F. Kirby. Originally this book was printed in 1882 in London. It was reprinted in 2007 by Dover Publications, Inc. Being an artist, I love looking at old illustrations and these are beautifully reproduced. Kirby drew a collection of butterflies and moths in various stages on a plant. Each is numbered and in the back of the book it tells you the scientific names.
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies by the National Audubon Society. This has been our butterfly Bible. Great descriptions and butterfly photos. Only has a few egg and caterpillar photos.
The Butterflies of North America A Natural History and Field Guide by James A. Scott. Well, it is large and I would not want to drag it on a hike (there are pocket guides below that work well for that). However, this does have exhautive info on butterflies, including location maps. Some egg, larva and pupa photos. TONS of butterfly photos that compare open/closed wing and male/female of many butterflies. If you are obcessive about identifying butterflies, this is a must have. You should be able to get it for $20-40 used. I have seen it listed for $500+ -- that is highway robbery!
Caterpillars of Eastern North America by David L. Wagner. Oooooh, such nice photos of caterpillars of all sorts of butterflies and moths! Great info too. This helped us to identify our trumpet vine sphinx caterpillar. Shows photos of the caterpillar and then the adult. This is a must have book!
The Family Butterfly Book by Rick Mikula. I almost did not get this book, but I am glad that I did. Whether or not you are raising butterflies as a family hobby/science project, this is a great book to have. Easy reading, humorous, packed with helpful info, lure and photos on raising butterflies. Some kids projects included. It also shows you how to hand mate butterflies . . . I think I’ll leave that to Mother Nature.
Flandex Family Field Guides Butterflies of the World by Rick Mikula. This unique fan-style guide is a quick reference that has interesting facts, lure and photos. A gift from my sister to Shane.
National Audubon Society Pocket Guide Familiar Butterflies of North America by Richard K. Walton. Small enough to take on a hike. In most cases, it shows the open and closed wing photos of the common butterflies and gives you a quick description. Nice photos.
Peterson First Guides Butterflies and Moths by Paul A. Opler. This also is meant to be a quick reference if you are on a hike. This book has illustrations of butterflies and moths. There are some open/closed wing and male/female comparisions.
Take-Along Guide Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies by Mel Boring. My sister gave this book to Shane when he was 6, and he was able to use it to identify the 1st monarch caterpillar that started our adventure with monarchs. Nice illustrations and info to introduce kids to the world of bugs.
Tracks & Signs of Insects and Other Invertebrates by Charley Eiseman and Noah Charney. Great photos and info. If you asking yourself, "What is this bump or track or spot on the leaf?" this book may help. Organized by the type of track left (eg: egg, burrow, gall, etc.).
The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs Garden Insects of North America by Whitney Cranshaw. Large book, which is similar to the book above, but organized by the type of insect (eg: leaf chewer, sap sucker, pollinator, etc.).
Monarch Movies
The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies Beautiful film by Nova which traces the life cycle of the monarch from Canada to Mexico. Available from PBS (the link is to PBS) and Amazon. We have a copy of this.
Monarch Enthusiast and Info Websites
Butterflies and Wildlife.com Blog on Monarchs, butterfly gardening, birds and more in Houston, Texas. Great photos and videos.
NY Site. More info on monarchs.
My Monarch Guide Info on raising monarchs.
Monarch Journey Info on monarchs.
Monarchs & Migration Monarchs and the mystery of migration.
General Butterfly Websites
How to Make Butterfly Gardens from the Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Prairie Frontier A nifty butterfly guide.