Dr. Orley R. Taylor, Jr.

  • Professor Emeritus

Contact Info

785-864-4852
132 Foley Hall

Biography —

Dr. Taylor directs Monarch Watch and conducts research on a variety of topics related to the evolution and ecological implications of life history traits in insects and plants.

Research —

My research efforts have included studies of reproductive isolating mechanisms in sulfur butterflies, reproductive and life history patterns in plants, comparative biology of European and Neotropical African honey bees and migratory behavior of monarch butterflies. Work in progress utilizes genetic markers to quantify the interactions between invading Neotropical African bees and resident European bees in North America. These investigations should clarify why, even after 40 years of hybridization, Neotropical African bees have retained their genetic integrity. Monarch Watch, an outreach program I initiated in 1992, now occupies much of my time.

Selected Publications —

  • Brower, L. P., O. R. Taylor, E. H. Williams, D. A. Slayback, R. R. Zubieta, and M. I. Ramírez. 2011. "Decline of Monarch Butterflies Overwintering in Mexico: Is the Migratory Phenomenon at Risk?" Insect Conservation and Diversity.
  • Kevan, P. G., D. Eisikowitch, W. Kinuthia, P. Martin, E. C. Mussen, U. Partap, O. R. Taylor, R. W. Thorp, C. H. Vergara, and K. Winters. 2007. "Why High Quality Hive Products Are Important to Agriculture" Bee World.
  • Savit, A. Z., D. R. Smith, and O. R. Taylor. 2006. "Mitochondrial DNA and allozyme frequencies in an Africanized Apis mellifera population in southern Oklahoma (short communication)" Journal of Apicultural Research. 45(3). 221-222.
  • Harrison, J. F., O. R. Taylor, and H. G. Hall. 2005. "The flight physiology of reproductives of Africanized, European, and hybrid honey bees (Apis mellifera)" Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 78(2). 153-162.
  • Feddema, J. J., J. Shields, O. R. Taylor, and D. J. Bennett. 2004. "Simulating the development and migration of the monarch butterfly" Monarch butterflies: Ecology and population biology. edited by Oberhauser, K. S. and M. Solensky. 229-240.
  • Perez, S. M. and O. R. Taylor. 2004. "Monarch butterflies’ (Danaus plexippus) migratory behavior persists despite changes in environmental conditions" Monarch butterflies: Ecology and population biology. edited by Oberhauser, K. S. and M. Solensky. 85-88.
  • Obrycki, J. J., J. E. Losey, O. R. Taylor, and L. C. Hansen. 2001. "Transgenic insecticidal corn: Beyond insecticidal toxicity to ecological complexity" BioScience. 51. 353-361.
  • Otis, G. W., O. R. Taylor, M. Spivak, M. L. Winston, S. J. Katz, and P. F. Kukuk. 1999. "Timing of mating flights of Neotropical African and European honey bee queens and drones (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Eastern Venezuela" 90-96.
  • Perez, S. M., O. R. Taylor, and R. Jander. 1999. "The effect of a strong magnetic field on monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migratory behavior" Naturwissenschaften. 86. 140-143.
  • Hobson, K. A., L. I. Wassenaar, and O. R. Taylor. 1999. "Stable isotopes (δD and δ13C) are Geographic Indicators of Natal Origins of Monarch Butterflies in Eastern North America" Oecologia. 120. 397-404.
  • Perez, S. M., O. R. Taylor, and R. Jander. 1999. "Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are disoriented by strong magnetic field" Naturwissenschaften. 86. 140-143.
  • Etheredge, J. A., S. M. Perez, O. R. Taylor, and R. Jander. 1999. "Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L.) use a magnetic compass for navigation" Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 23. 13845-13846.
  • Taylor, O. R., G. M. Loper, B. L. Foster, and Kochansky. 1997. "Relative attractiveness of queen mandibular pheromone components to honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) drones" Jour. Apicultural Res.. 36.
  • Perez, S. M., O. R. Taylor, and R. Jander. 1997. "A sun compass in monarch butterflies" Nature. 378. 29.
  • Taylor, O. R.. 1996. "Response to: Monarch transfer: A real concern" BioScience. 46. 563.
  • Taylor, O. R. and B. Williamson. 1996. "Monarch migration" Science Teacher. 63. 26-29.
  • Taylor, O. R. and P. Donham. 1996. "Measuring Monarchs" Dragonfly. 1. 20-23.
  • Taylor, O. R., T. Pankiw, M. L. Winston, E. Plettner, K. N. Slessor, and J. S. Pettis. 1996. "Mandibular gland components of European and Africanized honey bee queens" Jour. Chem. Ecol.. 22. 605-615.
  • Taylor, O. R.. 1995. "On the dangers of interpopulational transfers of monarch butterflies" BioScience. 45. 540-544.
  • Taylor, O. R., R. K. Smith, M. Spivak, C. Bennett, and M. L. Smith. 1993. "Maturation of tergal gland alkene profiles in European honey bee queens, Apis mellifera L" J. Chem. Ecol.. 19. 133-142.
  • Taylor, O. R. and G. A. Rowell. 1992. "Spatial dynamics of the honey bee mating system (Apis mellifera L.)" J. Kans. Ent. Soc.. 65. 218-222.
  • Taylor, O. R., G. A. Rowell, J. D. Villa, J. H. Matis, and J. M. Labougle. 1992. "Invasive dynamics of Africanized honey bees in North America" Naturwissenschaften. 79. 281-283.
  • Taylor, O. R., G. M. Loper, and W. W. Wolf. 1992. "Honey bee drone flyways and congregation areas -radar observations" J. Kans. Ent. Soc.. 65. 223-230.
  • Taylor, O. R., R. K. Smith, and M. Spivak. 1992. "Chemotaxonomy of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) Part 3: Identification of Africanization in honey bee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae)" Bee Science. 2. 93-105.
  • Taylor, O. R., G. M. Loper, and W. W. Wolf. 1991. "Radar documentation of the flight patterns of honey bees"
  • Taylor, O. R. and R. K. Smith. 1990. "Unsaturated extracted hydrocarbon caste differences between European queen and worker honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)" J. Kans. Ent. Soc.. 63. 369-374.
  • Taylor, O. R. and T. W. Sappington. 1990. "Genetic sources of pheromone variation in Colias eurytheme butterflies" J. Chem. Ecol.. 16. 2755-2770.
  • Taylor, O. R. and T. W. Sappington. 1990. "Disruptive sexual selection in Colias eurytheme butterflies" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.. 87. 6132-6135.
  • Taylor, O. R. and T. W. Sappington. 1990. "Developmental and environmental sources of pheromone variation in male pheromones in Colias eurytheme butterflies" J. Chem. Ecol.. 16. 2771-2786.
  • Smith, D. R., O. R. Taylor, and W. M. Brown. 1989. "Neotropical Africanized honeybees have African mitochondrial DNA" Nature. 339. 213-215.
  • Taylor, O. R., J. D. Villa, and C. Gentry. 1987. "Preliminary observations on thermoregulation, clustering, and energy utilization in African and European honey bees" J. Kans. Ent. Soc.. (60). 4-14.
  • Taylor, O. R., G. M. Loper, and W. W. Wolf. 1987. "Detection and monitoring of honeybee drone congregation areas by radar" Apidologie. 18. 163-172.