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New research on monarchs by Iowa State University scientists offers important insights to those trying to boost populations by planting habitat close to corn and soybean fields.
The research indicates maximum increases in Iowa monarch populations are expected if habitat is established near crop fields, assuming that Integrated Pest Management recommendations are used, and insecticide spray drift management practices are followed.
The research helps answer important questions related to the long-term sustainability of North America s eastern monarch butterfly
Establishing habitat, which includes milkweed and blooming wildflowers, is key to reversing the species decline and ensuring its survival. An important region in which to create habitat includes the agriculturally dominated north-central U.S., the monarch s prime summer breeding grounds. There, seed-treatment and foliar insecticides are routinely used on crop fields from mid‐May to late Augu
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Data shows monarch population shrinking despite recovery effort
Monarchs on milkweed. (ISU photo)
Researchers at Iowa State University say the continent’s monarch populations appear to be shrinking, despite vigilant efforts in Iowa and elsewhere to help the fragile butterflies recover their numbers.
Steve Bradbury, an ISU entomology professor, says the survey released last month of overwintering monarchs in Mexican forests dropped about two acres from a year ago.
“It was at about five acres of occupied forest canopy and our long-term goal is 15 acres,” Bradbury says. “People were hoping they were going to go up but weather conditions during different parts of the migration, especially the spring migration, knocked the numbers down in the U.S. and that sort of cascades.”