Citizen Science, LRWP, Butterflies, Monarchs, Moths: Part Two

​Butterfly monitoring and Monarch monitoring are two different activities. What can be observed and
counted differ. The environment differs In Monarch Monitoring. You also identifying milkweed (type and
number) and you look under each leaf from top to bottom. You are looking for Monarch pupa, chrysalis,
they are often in nearby trees. You are looking for stages of development and you are looking for feeding
Monarchs. You are also identifying insects that may harm the health of milkweed. One of the agencies
that provides guidelines for the projects is the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program. The University
of Minnesota was the reporting agency.
 
The training includes learning the protocols, being able to identify milkweed, demonstrating
observation-skills, recording, and reporting findings. There are numerous trails to choose from on all of
the LRWP sites.  The trainers for 2023 were Kathleen Silliman and Jenny Ratzlaff.

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