Welcome!
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 MLMP volunteer, you'll conduct weekly monarch
and milkweed surveys, measuring per plant densities of monarch eggs and larvae.
You'll also be able to participate in more detailed optional activities, such as
measuring parasitism rates and milkweed quality. Your contributions will aid in
conserving monarchs and their threatened migratory phenomenon, and advance our understanding
of butterfly ecology in general.
In addition to contributing to our understanding of monarch biology, you'll gain
hands-on experience in scientific research. Through this experience, we hope that
your appreciation and understanding of monarchs, monarch habitat, and the scientific
process are enhanced.
Already signed up? Click here to enter your
monitoring data online.
News and Updates
Archived News
Over 700 MLMP Monitoring Sites in the U.S. and Canada
Why Participate?
Does your heart soar and fill with wonder when a monarch flutters by? Are you concerned
about the monarch population or wild species in general? The
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP) is an exciting way for monarch
and nature enthusiasts to contribute basic knowledge about monarch population dynamics,
and foster monarch and habitat conservation. Help from citizens across the country
gives scientists a far bigger picture of the health of the monarch population. Your
involvement is the key!
MLMP volunteers are always learning. During
Nature Center training sessions, volunteers learn about monarch biology, practice
monitoring and data entry protocols, and receive all of the materials necessary
to conduct monitoring. Or, you can learn on your own with our online directions.
Learning to monitor is only the beginning; your observations and data collection
activities will invoke awareness of and curiosity about the local environment. Volunteers
communicate with monarch scientists with their questions and concerns through email.
All data are compiled by scientists and made available to volunteers. So, you'll
see your direct contribution to increased understanding of the monarch population.
Monitoring can be done alone or with others. The MLMP
is a terrific way to introduce young adults to field science and the love of nature.
Monitoring is also a passion to share with a friend or relative.
The best reason to participate in the MLMP is your
enthusiasm: about monarchs, nature, conservation, and continued learning. Please
consider signing up today, contact us for further information on how to become a
MLMP volunteer, or check to
see if there will be a training session at a Nature Center near you. We hope
to hear from you!