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Monarch butterflies can now be tracked with a high-tech solar system
A Monarch butterfly lands on a flower at the Rinconada Community Garden on Nov. 3, 2021, in Palo Alto.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Topline:
New tech is allowing researchers to monitor California’s monarch butterflies as the species faces a dangerous decline in population.
The backstory: Estimates suggest the monarch butterfly population has declined by more than 80% since the 1980s due to habitat loss, pesticides and climate change.
The latest: Researchers on the Central Coast are using new technology to track the endangered species' population. “Just this year, cellular tracking technologies have developed a radio transmitting tag that is small enough to put on a butterfly,” said Charis van der Heide, senior biologist at environmental consulting firm Althouse and Meade Inc., speaking on LAist's AirTalk with Larry Mantle.
Hi-tech mini backpacks: These tiny yet mighty solar transmitter tags serve as mini backpacks for monarchs, allowing researchers to track the butterflies in an effort to help monitor their movements. “This tag weighs 0.7 grams,” said van der Heide, adding, “And we just put it on the back of a monarch and let it fly away.”
Get involved: The tags connect via Bluetooth to a public app called Project Monarch, allowing researchers and everyday visitors to help track the butterflies’ movements in real time.
Learn more: Listen to the full AirTalk segment to hear more about the tracking project and how to get involved.
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New tech is allowing researchers to monitor monarch butterfly populations more closely
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