Vanessa Migration Project

This project is to coordinate observations of territorial behavior, migration, life history, population studies, seasonal variations in abundance and body size, and number of broods per year (voltinism) of butterflies in the genus Vanessa, including Vanessa atalanta, V. cardui, V. virginiensis, V. annabella, V. tameamea, and V. kershawi. (Red Admiral, Painted Lady, American Lady, West Coast Lady, Kamehameha Butterfly, and Australian Painted Lady).

Although the lady butterflies of the genus Vanessa are not as familiar or as well-studied as the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), their behavior and migration are likewise well worth observing. Much remains to be discovered about their habits and how their behavior and seasonal distribution varies by geographic location. Observers and experimenters ranging from casual to serious can discover new and valuable information about these butterflies.

To date, over 2100 observations have been logged by around 400 observers

Monitoring Activity Tracker

Snapshot

Coordinator: Bitzer, Royce J.
Program Started: 2001
Institution Type: Academic Institution
Data Availability: Contact Royce Bitzer
Species Focus: Single Species
The Red Admiral and Painted Lady Research Site
Contact URL: https://vanessa.ent.iastate.edu/how-report-flight-observations
Contact: Royce Bitzer (mariposa@iastate.edu)

Protocol

Protocol Type: Opportunistic, Sighting
Data Type(s): Presence only
Survey Focus: Adults
Incidental Data Collected: Behavior
Effort Tracking: None
Protocol Notes: Sightings are reported through an online portal or emailed to coordinator. Observations can include flight behavior (in addition to sightings)