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Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program

May 30, 2018

There is a new citizen science program in America being co-hosted by the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) organization. It’s called the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP). This new initiative engages biologists, land managers and citizen scientists in monitoring monarchs and their habitat across the US breeding and migratory range.

Monarchs on purple coneflowers. The various species of native coneflowers (Echinacea L.) are excellent nectar plants for monarchs and other insects.
As a monitor, you would adopt a site to monitor for monarch butterflies, milkweed and blooming plants, receive training in monarch biology, and join a nationwide effort to conserve monarchs. Photo by Judy Kesser

IMMP is designed to collect data on a variety of monarch population and habitat targets, help scientists understand the threats monarchs face, and inform habitat enhancement strategies.

To gather information from different land use types that support monarch habitat, the IMMP uses a spatially balanced, random grid system to prioritize areas for monitoring. It captures many aspects of habitat quality, threats, and habitat use by monarchs and data contribute to existing population and habitat models that inform broad goals for monarch conservation!

Field Activities

IMMP is divided into several activities from which participants can choose to do one or more at a monitoring site. Monitoring sites may either be a priority-ranked site selected by the IMMP or a personally selected site.

Activity 1: Milkweed & Blooming Plant Survey 2-4 hours, monthly
Activity 2: Monarch Egg & Larva Survey 1-2 hours, weekly
Activity 3: Adult Monarch Survey 30 minutes, every other week
Activity 4: Monarch Survival & Parasitism 30-60 minutes, daily while raising larva
Activity 5: Red Imported Fire Ants Survey variable in Southern US

For more information and to register for a training visit: MJV IMMP.

Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program Training

• June 2-3: Madison, WI
• June 9-10: Bloomington, MN
• June 16-17: Hennepin Co., MN
• June 23-24: Bradner, OH
• July 21-22: New London, WI

Training is two days; cost $50. The fee covers the expense of lunch during the workshop and your very own monitoring kit. Need-based scholarships are available upon request — please contact mjvmonitoring@umn.edu.

To register, find more information, or request a workshop near you, visit: MJV IMMP.

Financial support comes from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Monarch Joint Venture.

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