Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)
ORMN Project Contact: Carolyn Smith - catheal(at)mac.com
Project Background
The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) is a citizen science project involving volunteers from across the United States and Canada in monarch research. It was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota to collect long-term data on larval monarch populations and milkweed habitat. The overarching goal of the project is to better understand how and why monarch populations vary in time and space, with a focus on monarch distribution and abundance during the breeding season in North America. As an ORMN volunteer with MLMP, your contributions will aid in conserving monarchs and their threatened migratory phenomenon, and advance our understanding of butterfly ecology in general.
The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) is a citizen science project involving volunteers from across the United States and Canada in monarch research. It was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota to collect long-term data on larval monarch populations and milkweed habitat. The overarching goal of the project is to better understand how and why monarch populations vary in time and space, with a focus on monarch distribution and abundance during the breeding season in North America. As an ORMN volunteer with MLMP, your contributions will aid in conserving monarchs and their threatened migratory phenomenon, and advance our understanding of butterfly ecology in general.
CS (Citizen Science) Activities with Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)
Monarch Larva Monitoring
From April to October, volunteers monitor an existing site or establish a site pursuant to MLMP guidelines to monitor.
Monitoring activities include describing the size, quality, and characteristics of site; recording date milkweed comes up, describing milkweed density, examining milkweed plants and recording monarch eggs and larval instars that you observe using one of three datasheets. Other site activities include recording rainfall, collecting and rearing instars, comparing characteristics of plants with and without monarchs, and monitoring the presence and abundance of three common milkweed aphid species.
An additional citizen science component of MLMP called Project MonarchHealth tracks the prevalence of the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) in monarch butterflies. To check for OE in monarchs, ORMN volunteers press a sticker on the abdomens of adult monarchs to collect any parasites. The monarch is released, unharmed, and the sample is submitted to the University of Georgia for analysis.
From April to October, volunteers monitor an existing site or establish a site pursuant to MLMP guidelines to monitor.
Monitoring activities include describing the size, quality, and characteristics of site; recording date milkweed comes up, describing milkweed density, examining milkweed plants and recording monarch eggs and larval instars that you observe using one of three datasheets. Other site activities include recording rainfall, collecting and rearing instars, comparing characteristics of plants with and without monarchs, and monitoring the presence and abundance of three common milkweed aphid species.
An additional citizen science component of MLMP called Project MonarchHealth tracks the prevalence of the protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) in monarch butterflies. To check for OE in monarchs, ORMN volunteers press a sticker on the abdomens of adult monarchs to collect any parasites. The monarch is released, unharmed, and the sample is submitted to the University of Georgia for analysis.
- Location: A site on private property in Madison County. An ORMN volunteer may establish a count location pursuant to MLMP guidelines elsewhere, including in your own backyard.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in monarch larva monitoring may involve exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings. Lightly colored tick-protective clothing, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and water bottles are suggested.
- Special Requirements: Volunteers must complete the required on-line training from MLMP.org prior to volunteering.
- Time Commitment: 90 minutes to 2 hours weekly from April to October.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.