Save the date! International Monarch Monitoring Blitz: 25 July
For ten days, the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz invites the North American population to locate milkweed plants and look for eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises and butterflies in order to help estimate the size of the monarch's summer population. To take part, you need only transmit your monarch and milkweed plant observations via the Insectarium's Mission Monarch program.
Crucial data for monarch protection
The monarch's population has declined by 90% over the last 25 years, with the population size recorded in Mexico's wintering grounds last winter being the second lowest on record. Several factors are contributing to this sharp decline across the monarch's breeding and migratory range: loss of breeding habitat, pesticides and climate change.
Since monarch and milkweed populations cover a great deal of North America, the participation of the population is essential for deepening our knowledge of these two intimately connected species.
These observations help identify priority areas for monarch conservation and guide concrete actions on the ground. All data collected during the Blitz will be made available through the Trinational Monarch Knowledge Network, hosted on GBIF, where it will support large-scale analyses by scientists, researchers and conservation practitioners.
With monarch conservation gaining momentum across North America, there has never been a better time for communities to get involved. Step outside, connect with nature, and be part of the movement to protect the monarch butterfly!
Quotes
Maxim Larrivée, Director, Insectarium
"The Monarch Blitz is an example where community science – thanks to coordinated local action – can have a true continent-wide impact on the preservation of biodiversity. That collaboration, which brings together Canada, Mexico and the United States Mexico, embodies a real solution for implementing protective measures aimed at conserving the monarch butterfly."
Wendy Caldwell, Executive Director, Monarch Joint Venture
"The Monarch Joint Venture is proud to support the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz, a powerful example of international collaboration to better understand and protect one of North America's most iconic migratory species. Community science plays a vital role in tracking monarch populations and informing conservation action across borders—and every observation counts."
Jerónimo Chávez, Project Manager, Correo Real Program, Profauna A.C.
"An increase in the area occupied by the monarch butterfly on its wintering grounds in Mexico during the 2024–2025 season gave us great joy this year; it provided impetus to step up our commitment to conserve this incredible migratory phenomenon. An important part of the conservation of this species is compiling information all along its migratory journey throughout the year. We are therefore inviting everyone in North America with an interest in the monarch butterfly to join the Monarch Blitz in 2025. In Mexico, the Blitz enables us to map out the local (non-migratory) monarch butterfly populations and to continue promoting their conservation."
Your Time to Shine!
To take part in the Monarch Blitz, please share your observations through one of the participating community science programs below.
Naturalista (mexico.inaturalist.org)
Correo Real Program (correoreal.mx)
United States:
Journey North (journeynorth.org)
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (mlmp.org)
Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper (monarchmilkweedmapper.org)
iNaturalist (inaturalist.org)
Follow the Monarch Blitz and share your participation in this international conservation effort on social media by using the hashtag #MonarchBlitz!
Organizations United for Monarch Conservation
The Blitz is organized by a collaboration of organizations from across North America, including the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), the Insectarium | Montréal Espace pour la vie, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), the Monarch Joint Venture, Journey North, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Profauna A.C. and Mexico's National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp).
About Espace pour la vie
Protecting biodiversity and the environment is at the heart of the mission of Espace pour la vie, which is made up of the Biodôme, Biosphère, Insectarium, Jardin botanique and Planétarium. Together, these museums located in Montréal form Canada's largest natural science museum complex, welcoming over 2.4 million visitors each year. In view of the challenges our planet is facing, Espace pour la vie is working to increase its impact by fostering dialogue with communities and taking actions aimed at mobilizing the public behind the socio-ecological transition.
SOURCE Espace pour la vie Montreal
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