Monitoring Overview - Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)

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Overview of Monitoring Activities

Monitoring involves several different activities. Together, these activities help us to track monarch populations, understand monarch use of available habitat, and investigate some factors, such as weather and parasitism, which affect monarch populations.

All participants are required to do the Description of Monitoring Site, Milkweed Density, and Activity #1 Monarch Density. The rest of the activities are optional. The more activities you complete, the more we learn, but please only do what you have the time and energy to complete.

Print the datasheets, bring them with you to your monitoring site to fill out, then login to enter your data online (See Returning Data).

Activity	Required?	Frequency	Datasheet(s)	Method
Description of Monitoring Site	Required	Yearly	Description of Monitoring Site	Describe size, quality, and characteristics of site; record date milkweed comes up each year.
Milkweed Density	Required	Yearly (at middle of season)	Milkweed Density	Either count all milkweed plants at site OR randomly sample points to obtain plant density.
Activity #1 Monarch Density	Required	Weekly	(pick one to use) Datasheet #1A Weekly Monarch Density Datasheet #1B Season Summary of Monarch Density Datasheet #1C Monarch Density per Milkweed Plant	Examine milkweed plants and record the number of plants and monarch eggs and larval instars that you observe using one of three datasheets (1A and 1B are different ways of recording the same data; 1C asks for additional data): 1A: Collect monarch density data on new sheet each week (easier for children). 1B: Collect monarch density data on one sheet for whole season. 1C: Collect monarch density data, keeping track of the number of monarchs on each plant individually.
Activity #2 Rainfall	Optional	Daily	Datasheet #2 Rainfall	Mount a rain gauge at or near the site and record rainfall amounts.
Activity #3 Estimating Parasitism Rates	Optional	Weekly	Datasheet #3 Estimating Parasitism Rates	Collect 4th or 5th instars as you complete Activity #1 Monarch Density. Rear these larvae indoors and record whether they survive to adulthood and, if not, what caused their death.
Activity #4 Comparing Plants Occupied by Monarchs to Random Plants	Optional	Weekly	Datasheet #4A Characteristics of Milkweed Plants with Monarchs and Datasheet #4B Characteristics of Random Milkweed Plants	Measure the same characteristics (height, reproductive status, age, herbivore damage, and the presence or absence of invertebrates) in plants with monarchs and random plants.
Activity #5 Milkweed Aphid Distribution and Abundance	Optional (in development). Contact Emily Mohl or Karen Oberhauser for more information.	Weekly	Datasheet #5 (no online data entry options yet, you can send data to Emily; fill in Word file or use MLMP mailing address.	Monitor the presence and abundance of three common milkweed aphid species. If desired, report any parasitized aphids and aphid impacts on milkweed plants.