Advances in Monarch Butterfly Biology, Conservation, and Management: From Local to Continental
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 413

Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As you know, monarch butterflies are a beloved insect throughout North America and across the world, and as such, research into their biology and conservation is always welcome and useful for ongoing discussions about how best to meet their needs. This is especially true in these times of global change, federal policy changes, and even changes created by people who desire to help the monarchs. All of these issues are even more challenging when findings from various studies do not always agree, and it is up to us scientists to properly interpret these differences and identify realistic solutions going forward.
This Special Issue of Insects is designed to highlight recent advances in the study of monarch butterflies, including research into their biology (including physiology, parasitism, genetics), their conservation, and also in their management at any level, from local to continental.
The title of the Special Issue is purposely broad, so as to attract all possible contributions and scientists that are actively working on these issues. As there are some pressing issues concerning the conservation of monarchs, the potential topics below would be especially timely and encouraged:
- Research summarizing the impacts of parasites and/or diseases on monarchs, including the role of human interactions with monarchs.
- Findings from long-term monitoring projects or genetic analyses that point to needs (or lack of needs) for management.
- Effects of small- or large-scale government policy changes, whether it be empirical findings from past changes or opinions on proposed changes (opinion pieces will be considered).
- New findings related to fall migration and the ability of monarchs to reach their winter destinations.
- The impacts of migration loss/residency by portions of the population and/or the reasons for this.
Dr. Andrew K. Davis
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- monarch butterflies
- conservation
- management
- federal policies
- global changes
- scientific discourse
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