News

Monarch intern: Saumya Balaji

Saumya Balaji is an Undergraduate Research Assistant with the Iowa State University Monarch Butterfly Research Team. She is originally from Johnston, Iowa, and is majoring in Environmental Science and Global Resource Systems at Iowa State University. Her interests include entomology and ecological research. Her past insect research experience was to understand the impact of cold stress on the tissues of alfalfa leafcutting bees, which sparked her interest in entomology, in which she plans to pursue her PhD.

Native prairie habitat establishment for monarchs

For landowners looking to support monarch conservation, establishing native prairie habitat is a great option. For larger areas, planting often takes place during late fall and early winter, so now is the time to start planning your native prairie habitat! Here, we discuss site preparation, seed selection, and steps to establish native prairies.

Tips for searching for monarch caterpillars

Monarch caterpillars are just starting to appear in Iowa, but trying to find them amongst multiple milkweeds can be a challenge. Learn some telltale signs of caterpillar presence to help you find monarchs in your yard!

Monarch intern: Emma Donahey

Emma Donahey is an undergraduate research assistant with the Iowa State monarch butterfly research team. Donahey, originally from Des Moines, IA, is a senior majoring in Biology. During the semester, she works in a chemical ecology lab researching the impact of microbes on pollinator feeding behavior.

A study conducted by ISU researchers found that the use of prairie strips in agricultural settings increased the presence of monarch butterflies compared to linear grassy features. Prairie strips contained four times as many nectar plant species and five times as many flowers compared to grass strips. Differences in floral abundance were most apparent during the monarchs’ fall migration with prairie strips providing significantly more blooms. These findings demonstrate how prairie strips can support monarchs during key migration times throughout the year and are a good tool to implement for monarch conservation.

Designing native landscapes for pollinators

Protecting monarchs from extinction

Recent research by Dr. Wayne Thogmartin examines the risk of extinction for the monarch butterfly. By comparing trends in population size, Dr. Thogmartin identifies two potential solutions to combat the monarch’s increasing extinction risk and provides thoughts on which is most feasible. 

This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium. In honor of this achievement, we've put together a celebratory video to highlight the amazing work that has been done and to thank everyone who has given us support. Here's to another 10 years of conservation! *Full video on our YouTube page*

The latest official report of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico has just been released and offers some encouragement to those working to save the iconic species. The overwintering monarchs occupied 4.4 acres during the 2024-2025 winter season in Mexico – nearly doubling last year’s acreage.

The Western Monarch Count has announced the number of overwintering monarchs in California for the 24/25 winter season. This winter was the second lowest count on record with a total of 9,119 butterflies. Leer en Español: https://xerces.org/press/la-poblacion-de-mariposas-monarca-occidentales-disminuye-hasta-alcanzar-un-minimo-casi 

New opportunities for monarch conservation: Scientists seek to establish new overwintering grounds

With climate change impacting the availability of overwintering habitat for monarch butterflies, research shows promising potential for new monarch habitat creation in Mexico.

With the recent proposal for listing the monarch as a threatened species, now is a crucial time for public involvement. Learn more about how you can be involved in the listing decision making process.

This update of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium Effort Report includes habitat data through 2022 and summarizes the progress that the Consortium and its partners have made in monarch conservation.

IMCC Project Alumni Dr. Kelsey Fisher Publishes Paper Analyzing Genetic Evidence of Migrating Monarchs

Mykayla Hagaman Appointed as New Program Specialist for Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium

Pollinator Fest at Reiman Gardens!