Monarch Conservation Strategies for Texas Roadways

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supported federal listing of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in December 2020, but listing is currently delayed due to other higher priority listing actions. Texas roadways play a critical role in the successful spring and fall migrations of the eastern monarch butterfly population. TxDOT project 0-7022, “Evaluating Fall Monarch Butterfly Roadkill Hotspot Incidence and Potential Roadkill Mitigation” has revealed perennial hotspots for fall monarch butterfly roadkill in Texas. Yearly roadkill can comprise up to 2.5% of the Mexican overwintering population. Spring and fall roadside milkweed and monarch-preferred nectar plant hotspots have also been identified which provide critical resources to monarchs in terms of both milkweed larval food and flower nectar for adults.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/project=7022-01
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Continuation of TxDOT Research Project 0-7022

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $580660
• Contract Numbers:

  0-7022-01

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701
• Managing Organizations:

  Texas Department of Transportation

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701
• Project Managers:

  Schwerdt, Tom

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas A&M University, College Station

  Texas Agrilife Research, 113 Jack K. Williams Administration Building
  2142 TAMU
  College Station, Texas  United States  77843
• Principal Investigators:

  Goehl, Darlene

• Start Date: 20230217
• Expected Completion Date: 20250831
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animal migrations; Conservation; Endangered species; Environmental protection; Insects; Road kill; Roadside fauna
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01875330
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 0-7022-01
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 9 2023 5:08PM