NDSU Extension Master Gardener Online Monarch Monitoring Training

The NDSU Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Program has a history of providing pollinator conservation education in the region. This year, the EMG Program is promoting a citizen science project called, the Monarch Larva Monitoring Program (MLMP). The MLMP was developed at the University of Minnesota and its stated purpose is to utilize volunteers across the U.S. and Canada to collect long-term data on monarch populations and milkweed habitat. The EMG Program is assisting the MLMP to increase the amount of data collected in North Dakota.

The EMG Program will be providing a three-day online training on June 5, 6, 7 to enable volunteers to participate in the Monarch Larva Monitoring Program. Training topics include: understanding the monarch life cycle and migration, detecting eggs on milkweed, identifying larval instar stages, differentiating between monarch adults and lookalikes, identifying milkweed species, constructing a monarch conservation garden, and all of the steps in scouting for monarchs at all stages of the life cycle. All data will be entered on the MLMP website.

The goal of this training is to promote individuals to monitor their home gardens, pastures, and unmowed roadsides for monarchs. A minimum of ten milkweed plants is required for a monitoring project. Training is open to:

• Extension Master Gardeners
• 4-H youth and volunteers
• Members of the gardening public that are interested in assisting this citizen science project

Training is free and will be offered via Zoom over the lunch hour (central time). Each training session will run 60 to 90 minutes. Dr. Esther McGinnis (Director of the EMG Program and April Johnson (Extension Pollinator Technician) will conduct the training. If you are unable to attend the live Zoom training, you may watch recordings of the training. Registration is required. 

The deadline to signup is June 2nd.