Monarch expert invites vols to play role in butterfly monitoring project

By tracking the presence of monarch eggs and larvae, volunteers will contribute valuable data to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (Courtesy photo)

HOLDERNESS -- The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is hosting a community citizen science project to monitor monarch butterfly larvae on milkweed. Interested participants are invited to join weekly monitoring sessions every Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the Pemi-Oxbow Preserve that straddles Holderness, Plymouth & Ashland.

On Monday July 28, a special Monarch Monitoring Monday will be led by George DeWolf, coordinator of New Hampshire's longest-running North American Butterfly Association butterfly survey, now entering its 22^nd year. George will give a guided tour of the Pemi-Oxbow Preserve and the various species of butterflies that can be found there.

By tracking the presence of monarch eggs and larvae, volunteers will contribute valuable data to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, a nationwide initiative to better understand monarch breeding, distribution, and population health. Community involvement is vital to these efforts, helping scientists and conservationists protect monarchs and their habitats for future generations.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome. They are advised to meet in the back left corner of the Plymouth State University Ice Arena parking lot at 9:30 on Monday mornings through the end of August. Preregister at nhnature.org and Heidi Emmons for more information at heidi.emmons@nhnature.org.

Please note:

• PLEASE WEAR LONG PANTS, SOCKS, and CLOSED-TOED SHOES. There is a LOT of poison ivy on the walk out, as well as a healthy population of wood ticks.

• The walk to the field that we are monitoring is about ½ mile long, relatively flat, with easy footing.

For more information about how to get involved in the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, visit https://mlmp.org.