Local Documentary Project Tracks Monarch Butterflies, Wooly Bears in Year Two Study

July 14, 2026

Local Documentary Project Tracks Monarch Butterflies, Woolly Bears in Year Two Study

By Lisa Loucks-Christenson

ROCHESTER — A new chapter in a continuing wildlife documentary project is underway as the first monarch caterpillars of 2026 emerge in southeastern Minnesota and surrounding regions.

The project, titled MonarchStar, marks the second year of an ongoing observational study documenting monarch butterflies and woolly bear caterpillars from early development through transformation.

Last year’s work, which included The Trio of Monarchs and Dolly: The Caterpillar I Knew Inside the Butterfly, followed individual monarchs through their life cycles, offering detailed visual and written records of their development.

This year’s study begins with newly observed monarch eggs and early-stage caterpillars found on milkweed plants. The project aims to document which individuals will mature in time to join the fall migration and which may enter delayed emergence cycles, potentially overwintering before becoming butterflies.

Monarch migration is influenced by environmental factors including temperature, daylight length, and seasonal timing. Late-season monarchs are known for traveling thousands of miles south, while earlier generations may have shorter life spans and remain local.

In addition to monarchs, the MonarchStar project also includes woolly bear caterpillars, which follow a different life cycle and often overwinter in caterpillar form before emerging in spring.

The study combines field observation, photography, and ongoing documentation to better understand survival patterns and developmental timing among both species.

“This is about more than observation,” Loucks-Christenson said. “It’s about documenting survival, change, and the fragile conditions that determine which butterflies will take flight and which will wait.”

The project will continue through the fall migration season, with updates expected as caterpillars progress through their stages of growth and transformation.

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Lisa Loucks-Christenson is an investigative journalist, author, photographer, illustrator, and ordained Christian minister. She creates documentaries, reports, and media projects focused on wildlife, faith, community issues, and storytelling.

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