The ISU Monarch Research Team is part of the Iowa Monarch #Conservation Consortium. We study #monarch #butterfly behavior + habitat needs. Try #HabiTally app!

Iowa, USA
Joined May 2016
Calling all landowners! We’re asking Iowans to report sightings of monarch roosts across the state to provide insight on what makes quality roosting habitat during the monarchs' fall migration. Report sightings to @journeynorthorg or [email protected]. cals.iastate.edu/news/2026/i…
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How do hybrid milkweeds impact monarch caterpillar growth? New research shows that caterpillars feeding on hybrid milkweeds had reduced growth rates. link.springer.com/article/10…
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Check out this new bumble bee report from Friends of the Mississippi River on bumble bees abundance in remnant and reconstructed prairies! Their findings provide insight on plant preference and increasing the quality of prairie habitats for pollinators. fmr.org/updates/conservation…
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Graduate Research Highlight: This is Yuanwu's second summer studying pollinator communities in Iowa corn and soybean fields. He’s also started a side project looking at Iowa fireflies abundance in both agricultural and natural areas! monarch.ent.iastate.edu/news… Photos by Yuanwu Wang
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Happy National #LeaveTheLeaves Month! Research has shown that removing leaf litter from your yard decreases butterfly emergence next spring by 45%. Let’s protect the butterflies overwintering in our yards by leaving the leaves on the ground this fall! sciencedirect.com/science/ar…
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This #NativeFlowerFriday highlights Black-eyed Susans! This flower is great for pollinators as it is the host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and blooms throughout September and October! prairiemoon.com/rudbeckia-hi… @ISU_YardGarden
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We've had a few more roost reports as we near the end of the fall migration. Check back in later this fall for a summary of the Iowa roost reports! Thanks to everyone who has reported a roost and to Brittany Holland, Mike Ping, Lauren Rice, and Mary Ascher for these photos!
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Monarch Migration Research Update: Our monarchs have made it to Texas! There are still some making their way through Iowa as we just released the last few this past weekend, so make sure to keep using your Project Monarch app to track their progress! play.google.com/store/apps/d…
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We’re at 530 monarch roosting reports! If you see a roost, email us at [email protected] and include the number of monarchs seen, the roost location, and what trees were used. Thanks to James Black, Jody Wallis, Heather Hull, and Malissa Prior for these wonderful pictures!
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Iowa Monarchs retweeted
A team of conservation scientists and ecology experts at @IowaStateU are closely tracking monarchs' fall migration in new collaborative study🗞️go.iastate.edu/RNHULW 🦋@ReimanGardensIA @IowaMonarchs @CellTrackTech
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Monarch Migration Research Update: Many of our butterflies are currently near Wichita, Kansas. Hopefully they’ll have good weather this week to continue on into Oklahoma! Keep using the Project Monarch app to help us collect more data! play.google.com/store/apps/d… @ReimanGardensIA
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Graduate Research Highlight: This is Adam's second summer collecting data on butterfly communities in remnant and reconstructed prairies. This year, he's also surveying regal fritillaries and their association with native violets! monarch.ent.iastate.edu/news… Photos by Adam Meneses
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Goldenrod is one of the monarch’s favorite fall blooming plants! Since it’s one of the last blooming plants of the season, it is a key nectar resource during the fall migration. #NativeFlowerFriday prairiemoon.com/solidago-spe… @ISU_YardGarden
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We have over 275 reported roosting sites in Iowa! If you see a roost, please email us at [email protected] with the number of monarchs seen, roost location, and what trees were used. Photo credits: Cheryl Sheimo, Neil Peterson, Lydia Kolek, and Angie Stensrud
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Monarch Migration Research Update: Looking to see where our tagged monarchs are in the Project Monarch App? Check out this short video to help sort through the butterflies on the app! @ReimanGardensIA
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Bumann Farm Update! Look at these beautiful photos the Bumann Family sent us of their CRP prairie in bloom! Hear more about the work being done on their farm to support pollinators: youtube.com/watch?v=bNPe-JQu… Photo Credit: Roberta Bumann
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We have over 100 reported roosts! The migration continues through October. If you spot a monarch roost, email us at [email protected] with the number of monarchs, roost location, and what trees were used. Photos by Julie Day, Susan, Knoll, Melea Licht, and Lerin Hermanson!
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Graduate Research Highlight: Sonja Weber's research digs into the differences between remnant and reconstructed prairies and how management practices, like fire and grazing, affect their plant communities! monarch.ent.iastate.edu/news… Photos by Sonja Weber and Dharma Fribley
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Monarch Migration Research Update: And they’re off! We’ve tagged 30 monarchs, and some are already nearing Missouri! Download the Project Monarch app and select University of Guelph under organizations to see where our butterflies are! play.google.com/store/apps/d… @ReimanGardensIA
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Looking to plant a school pollinator garden? The Sand County Foundation's Pollinator Habitat Education Program can provide free native plants or seeds to schools in Iowa along with instruction on garden design and maintenance! sandcountyfoundation.org/our…
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