Latest News

Get ready to sample in 2009! Are levels of OE in monarch populations increasing? Prevalence recorded by participants in 2006 and 2007 showed surprisingly high infection levels of 5-10 times than reported in previous scientific studies. Is this part of a longer-term trend, or a short-term outbreak situation? Although OE infections declined somewhat in 2008, only data collected over many years can tell us how frequently outbreaks occur, and how much change happens between years. Looking over the long-term, we can ask whether monarch population sizes change in response to parasite infection. To do this, we need your help to continue sampling each year. Now is the time to order your 2009 MonarchHealth sampling kit!  Each participant can receive 1 free kit plus refresher materials. We realize you may not be seeing many monarchs yet, but please order your kit before the fall migration. Thank you for helping us continue to monitor long-term changes in OE infections in monarchs!

We have finished analyzing data from 2008. Prevalence recorded by participants in 2006 and 2007 showed surprisingly high infection levels of 5-10 times that reported in previous scientific studies.

For more information and reminders, check out our Spring 2009 newsletter.

Current Project Participants

During the past 3 years we've sent sampling kits to over 200 prospective volunteers. For 2006-2008 combined, a total of 105 volunteers submitted samples to our lab for analysis, and their locations which span 21 US states and two Canadian provinces. The diferent colored symbols indicate the number of years a volunteer has sampled monarchs. Special thanks to our 20 volunteers who have sampled all three years!

Who Participates in Project Monarch Health? Our participants are located across North America and include people who sample monarchs at nature centers, in classrooms and backyard gardens. Many participants also submit data to other citizen-science projects including Journey North and the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. The pie chart to the right shows the affiliations of volunteers who submitted samples in 2006.

Photo by Mary Beth Cary , WCPS, Sylvester, GA

We have received numerous samples from teachers and their students including those at the level of elementary and middle school. Students can gain experience rearing wild captured monarchs, learning about the biology of parasites, and participating in scientific research. NEW! If you are a teacher, please check out our new Classroom Resources page for teaching aids about monarchs and their parasites.

Other Monarch Project Websites

Monarch Larva Monitoring Project began in 1997 at the University of Minnesota. It involves citizens in collecting data that will help to explain the distribution and abundance patterns of monarch butterflies in North America.

Journey North helps students study wildlife migration and seasonal change. They track the coming of spring through the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, robins, hummingbirds, whooping cranes, gray whales, bald eagles— and other birds and mammals; the budding of plants; changing sunlight; and other natural events.

Monarch Migratory Association of America: A network of existing monarch migration projects that all focus on : counting the annual numbers of monarchs that migrate though specific sites in North America.

Monarchs Across Georgia: A collaboration of teachers, students, families, communities, businesses and others, all working together to study Monarch butterflies and restore butterfly habitat across Georgia.