# Recent research on monarchs and milkweed

60 papers published since 2025, indexed from Europe PMC. Bibliographic metadata only; abstracts are not reproduced. Last refreshed 2026-08-31.

## 2026

- A nuclear targeting approach enables efficient transgenesis in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus. Shirai Y, Hashmi Y, Watts A and others. bioRxiv. July 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.07.30.741915
- Continental breeding hotspots of migratory monarch butterflies revealed by coordinated community science partnership. Lewthwaite J, Drapeau Picard A, Blanchet G and others. EcoEvoRxiv. July 2026. doi:10.32942/x2qm3g
- Large-scale atmospheric circulation cells regulate migratory dynamics of the iconic monarch butterfly. Neupane N, Ries L, Guralnick RP and others. bioRxiv. July 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.07.16.738965
- The Preponderance of Evidence Indicates That the Eastern North American Monarch Population Has Declined in All Stages of Its Annual Cycle. Reply to Davis, A.K. Comment on "Oberhauser, K.S. Eastern North American Monarch Butterfly Conservation Needs and Opportunities: What the Science Tells Us. <i>Insects</i> 2026, <i>17</i>, 235". Oberhauser KS, Pleasants J. Insects. July 2026. doi:10.3390/insects17070713
- A Review of the Science Around Monarch Butterflies Should Contain a Complete and Accurate Description of the Science. Comment on Oberhauser, K.S. Eastern North American Monarch Butterfly Conservation Needs and Opportunities: What the Science Tells Us. <i>Insects</i> 2026, <i>17</i>, 235. Davis AK. Insects. July 2026. doi:10.3390/insects17070712
- Trapped honey bees reduce floral visitation on milkweed flowers. Jett ID, Yang LH. Ecology. July 2026. doi:10.1002/ecy.70452
- Persistence in a fragmented habitat: genetic diversity and pollination patterns in Asclepias viridiflora. Maton D, Beck JJ, Wagenius S and others. Annals of botany. July 2026. doi:10.1093/aob/mcaf287
- Neurobiological interfaces connecting environmental change to monarch butterfly migration. Goforth KM, Shetty V, Giannuzzi MS and others. Current opinion in neurobiology. June 2026. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2026.103240
- Visual cue properties determine innate orientation strategy in Monarch butterflies. Hanslin FØ, Gayler M, Franzke M and others. bioRxiv. June 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.06.16.732693
- Monarch performance and cardenolide sequestration decline on naturally derived hybrid milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca x speciosa). Olson-Manning CF, Acharya S, Matuck L and others. Research Square. June 2026. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9919052/v1
- A model system test of trophic transmission of RNA interference effects using the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus (Hemiptera). Argaez EM, Digel JB, Reding K and others. Scientific reports. June 2026. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54197-6
- Phylogenomic and comparative analyses of plastomes of the tribe Marsdenieae (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae): insights into plastome characteristics and generic relationships with an emphasis on Asian genera. Chen R, Yao X, Li JY and others. BMC plant biology. June 2026. doi:10.1186/s12870-026-09171-9
- Contribution to floral structure and palynological features of Turkish Periplocoideae and Asclepiadoideae taxa. Güven S, Makbul S, Sarıkaya E and others. BMC plant biology. May 2026. doi:10.1186/s12870-026-08939-3
- Toxin resistance in the monarch butterfly expanded its milkweed host range. Weksler NC, Astourian M, Yip D and others. bioRxiv. May 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.05.25.727632
- Exploring peptidases from the milkweed bug Spilostethus pandurus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) by proteomics, transcriptomics and gene expression analysis for the hydrolysis of food proteins. Albuquerque W, Ghezellou P, Sharweda M and others. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics. May 2026. doi:10.1016/j.cbd.2026.101855
- Characterizing potential risk of Cry1B.34 and Cry1Da2 proteins expressed in insect-protected maize to monarch butterfly. Fischer JR, Boeckman CJ, LeRoy KL and others. Environmental entomology. May 2026. doi:10.1093/ee/nvag050
- Light pollution at night impacts monarch butterfly growth and performance. Gurholt H, Arun R, López-Sepulcre A and others. Ecology. May 2026. doi:10.1002/ecy.70382
- Hybrid Monarch Butterfly Optimization-DenseNet framework for energy-aware task scheduling in cloud environments. Manavalan T, Gunasekaran P, Elumalai S and others. Scientific reports. April 2026. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-47949-x (open access)
- Patterns of host plant use by monarch butterflies revealed through annotation of more than 35,000 community science records. Freedman M. bioRxiv. April 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.04.06.716508
- Tetraopes Milkweed Beetle Genomes Elucidate the Adaptive Basis of a Temperate Coevolutionary Radiation. Kim S, Farrell BD. Molecular ecology resources. April 2026. doi:10.1111/1755-0998.70117 (open access)
- Comparing Machine Learning Using UAVs to Ground Survey Methods to Quantify Milkweed Stem Density and Habitat Characteristics in ROWs. Baker AM, Emerick G, Bahlai C and others. Insects. March 2026. doi:10.3390/insects17040359 (open access)
- Cardenolide toxin diversity impacts monarch butterfly growth and sequestration. Agrawal AA, Hastings AP, Rubiano-Buitrago P. eLife. March 2026. doi:10.7554/elife.109003 (open access)
- Toxic Keratoconjunctivitis from Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Exposure in a Contact Lens Wearer. Lu A, St Clair J 4th, TenHulzen RD. The Journal of emergency medicine. March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2026.03.001
- Migrating in a Warming World: A Deep Learning Approach to Predict Pan-American Seasonal Shifts in the Monarch Butterfly Niche. Vanalli C, Zbinden R, van Tiel N and others. Global change biology. March 2026. doi:10.1111/gcb.70805 (open access)
- Eastern North American Monarch Butterfly Conservation Needs and Opportunities: What the Science Tells Us. Oberhauser KS. Insects. February 2026. doi:10.3390/insects17030235 (open access)
- Impacts of Common Milkweed (<i>Asclepias syriaca</i>) Leaf Age on Larval Monarch (<i>Danaus plexippus</i>) Survival, Growth, Development, and Feeding Behavior. Fisher KE, Bryan CB, Acevedo C and others. Insects. February 2026. doi:10.3390/insects17020215 (open access)
- The multisensory basis of long-distance migration in monarch butterflies and bogong moths: precision navigation or simply chance?. Warrant E, Maleszka R. The Journal of experimental biology. February 2026. doi:10.1242/jeb.250957
- Pesticide residues on milkweed and strawberry at small farms and non-target effects of two fungicides on monarch butterfly caterpillars. Hastings AP, Par VH, McArt SH and others. PeerJ. February 2026. doi:10.7717/peerj.20729 (open access)
- Gomphocarpus fruticosus (Apocynaceae): A review of the botany, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and bioactivity of milkweed. Mphahlele MP, Viljoen A. South African journal of botany : official journal of the South African Association of Botanists = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir plantkunde : amptelike tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Genootskap van Plantkundiges. February 2026.
- First Plastome Sequences of Two Endemic Taxa of <i>Orbea</i> Haw. from the Arabian Peninsula: Comparative Genomics and Phylogenetic Relationships Within the Tribe Ceropegieae (Asclepiadoideae, Apocynaceae). Alharbi SA. Biology. January 2026. doi:10.3390/biology15030223 (open access)
- Seasonal blood-brain barrier plasticity links environmental cues to migratory behavior in monarch butterflies. Lugena AB, Goforth KM, Shetty V and others. bioRxiv. January 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.01.16.699996
- Intraspecific microbiome dynamics across the life cycle of the milkweed bug <i>Oncopeltus fasciatus</i>. Larner W, Thölke da Silva Grego N, Panfilio KA. Microbial genomics. January 2026. doi:10.1099/mgen.0.001583 (open access)
- The Impact of Complimentary Wildflower Seed Packets Compared to Milkweed Plants on Monarch Butterfly Habitat Creation and Conservation Engagement. Geest EA, Snyder RJ. Zoo biology. October 2025. doi:10.1002/zoo.70026

## 2025

- Phenology and Abundance of Migratory and Breeding Populations of Monarch Butterflies in the Pacific Northwest 2012-2024. James DG, James TS. Insects. December 2025. doi:10.3390/insects17010001 (open access)
- Neurogenesis in the trunk and brain of the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus: insights beyond holometabolan models. Alon N, Chipman AD. Frontiers in zoology. December 2025. doi:10.1186/s12983-025-00593-z (open access)
- Congestion management using monarch butterfly optimization in restructured power system. M H, V SK. Scientific reports. December 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-30110-5 (open access)
- Temperature and precipitation explain species‐specific phenological patterns in five native California milkweed species (Asclepias spp.). MacArthur‐Waltz DJ, Sommer DS, Singh P and others. Journal of Ecology. December 2025.
- Investigation of Ecophysiological and Phytosociological Parameters on the Populations of the Invasive Alien Species Asclepias Syriaca l. In the Danube Valley, Romania. MARIANA N. Research Square. November 2025. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8117504/v1
- Secondary Compounds in Milkweed Nectar Negatively Impact Thermal Tolerance in Bumble Bees. Shippee R, Feuerborn C, Bradley A and others. Ecology and evolution. November 2025. doi:10.1002/ece3.72420 (open access)
- Context-dependency of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) egg abundance on milkweeds (Asclepias). Harris K, Reinbott TM, Woods T and others. PloS one. November 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0336242 (open access)
- Effects of Leaf Herbivory on Floral Trait Correlations and Scent Composition in Asclepias syriaca. Aguirre LA, Theis N, Pak JH and others. Journal of chemical ecology. October 2025. doi:10.1007/s10886-025-01654-7
- Diapause history has lasting effects on adult brain gene expression in monarch butterflies. Stratton SM, Green DA 2nd. Journal of insect physiology. October 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2025.104893
- Pyrethroid insecticides implicated in mass mortality of monarch butterflies at an overwintering site in California. Cibotti S, Hladik ML, May E and others. Environmental toxicology and chemistry. October 2025. doi:10.1093/etojnl/vgaf163
- The reproductive microbiome inhibits pollen germination in milkweed. Dalgleish HJ, Puzey JR, Barlow K and others. bioRxiv. September 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.09.25.678039
- Impact of climate change on the habitat range of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Ragab SH, Tyshenko MG, Halmy MWA. Scientific reports. September 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-17443-x (open access)
- Cardenolide toxin diversity impacts monarch butterfly growth and sequestration. Agrawal AA, Hastings AP, Rubiano-Buitrago P. bioRxiv. September 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.09.03.673942
- Milkweed Fiber Nonwovens for Sustainable Thermal and Acoustic Building Insulation. Lupescu D, Robert M, Elkoun S. Materials (Basel, Switzerland). August 2025. doi:10.3390/ma18163821 (open access)
- The impact of temperature on the reproductive development, body condition and mortality of autumn migrating monarch butterflies in the laboratory. Rich M, Kesselring JH, Garcia A and others. Royal Society open science. August 2025. doi:10.1098/rsos.250343 (open access)
- Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) only use magnetic cues for migratory directionality with orientation re-calibrated by coldness. Shively-Moore SA, Matter SF, Guerra PA. PloS one. August 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0328737 (open access)
- Phylogenomics Reveals Deep Divergences and Cryptic Species Within a Rare Sand-Dwelling Milkweed, <i>Asclepias tomentosa</i> Elliott. Duran DP, Ksepka JE, Davis SA and others. Ecology and evolution. August 2025. doi:10.1002/ece3.71942 (open access)
- An investigation into the spatial patterns of invasive common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) stands through the utilization of drone images. Bakacsy L, Zakar T. Scientific reports. August 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-14034-8 (open access)
- Viceroys in the Garden With the Monarch Butterflies: Medical Mimics of Catatonia. Yacques A, Culver A, LaFever A and others. Clinical neuropharmacology. August 2025. doi:10.1097/wnf.0000000000000647
- Functional Allometry of Sexually Selected Traits in Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Red Milkweed Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Cirino LA, Lindemann KJ, Hagey TJ and others. Journal of morphology. August 2025. doi:10.1002/jmor.70075
- Differential effects of clothianidin exposure on metabolic rates across life stages of Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Cibotti S, Ali JG, Schilder RJ. Environmental entomology. August 2025. doi:10.1093/ee/nvaf041
- Inverted repeats dynamics shape Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae) Chloroplast genomes: effects on genome size, gene content, structural arrangement, and mutation rate. Abdullah, Haram D, Yan R and others. BMC genomics. July 2025. doi:10.1186/s12864-025-11839-9 (open access)
- Optimal conservation of migratory monarch butterflies requires immediate international coordination. Flockhart DTT, Nicol S, Chadès I and others. Current biology : CB. July 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.06.068
- Functional Profiles of Phyllosphere and Rhizosphere Metagenomes Differ Across Milkweed Species. Hansen T, Enders L. Environmental microbiology reports. July 2025. (open access)
- Assessing predation of monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) larvae using artificial caterpillar models. Baker AM. Scientific reports. July 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-07516-2 (open access)
- Cardenolides May Affect Herbivory on Milkweeds ( Asclepias spp.) by the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Godinez-Vidal D, Achi P, Dillman AR and others. bioRxiv. July 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.06.30.662457
- Migrating in a warming world: A deep learning approach to predict pan-American seasonal shifts in the monarch butterfly niche. Vanalli C, Zbinden R, van Tiel N and others. bioRxiv. June 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.06.25.661455

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Source: https://milkweedusa.com/research/ — Milkweed USA, CC BY 4.0. Bibliographic data from Europe PMC.