2026 Biodiversity in the Connecticut River Watershed Lecture Series: Monarch Butterfly Biology, Ecology, and Conservation Needs, by Kelsey Fisher

The monarch butterfly population in North America is in decline in association with the loss of breeding habitat, including milkweed and nectar resources, in the United States. Because of the challenging cost to support the ‘boots-on-the-ground’ effort required to reach this goal, it is imperative that new habitat establishment practices are designed to maximize monarch survival, longevity, and realized fecundity. Understandings of monarch behavior can help inform practical aspects of restoration, including where habitat should be planted, how much milkweed should be planted, what additional species should be included, and how restorations should be maintained. 
Dr. Kelsey E. Fisher is an Assistant Agricultural Scientist II in the Entomology Department at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Kelsey served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University (ISU) under the guidance of Steven P. Bradbury from 2021-2022. She earned her PhD in Entomology from ISU in 2021 were she studied monarch butterfly conservation, MS in Entomology from the University of Delaware in 2015 where she studied European corn borer management, and BS in Biology from Widener University in 2013. Kelsey is an agricultural entomologist and insect movement ecologist. Kelsey employes multiple research methods to address research questions related to conservation of beneficial species, including monarch butterflies and bumble bees.