Field Activities & Protocols
Site Description & Management History
Describe the monitoring plot before conducting any activities. Site Description Page 1 is only completed once per year; this record basic information about the plot location and surrounding. Site description Page 2 must be completed on the first and all subsequent visits. The Management History form must be completed for sites undergoing any conservation management; it records management history and can be added to each year.
Activity 1 (Milkweed and Blooming Plant Survey)
Activity 1 assesses pollinator habitat at a site. Participants count the number of milkweed plants and assess the relative abundance of blooming plants that provide nectar for adult monarchs. Leval A & B apply to sites roughly >0.5 acres or larger and involve collecting data within subplots along transects. The Census survey is applicable to small sites or non-diverse homogenous sites such as a crop field (often, baseline data before restoration). Activities 1 and 2 may be combined if desired.
Activity 2 (Monarch Egg and Larva Survey)
In Activity 2, participants monitor milkweed plants in their monitoring plot for monarch eggs and larvae.
Activity 3 (Adult Monarch Survey)
Activity 3 documents adult monarch presence and behavior. Participants conduct a Modified Pollard Walk to count the number of adult monarchs present at their monitoring plot and record the behavior of those monarchs.
Activity 4 (Monarch Survival)
Activity 4 is designed to assess local rates of monarch parasitism by collecting monarch larvae, rearing them, and reporting their fate. Important notes: Collection or rearing of monarchs is not permitted in California. In other states, public lands often require a scientific collector’s permit to collect live organisms. Check state and federal restrictions and secure any necessary permits before pursuing this activity.
Training
Learn about the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program via training workshops or online training videos here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read these frequently asked questions to find the answers to your questions about IMMP monitoring. If your question isn’t listed there, let us know and we will add it!
Additional Resources
Access landowner waivers, plant identification guides, outreach materials, and more here.
Learn how to Manage Multiple Sites & Data Contributors here.