Completion Form

2023

Multiple native Utah insect pollinator species are now being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The monarch butterfly was designated in 2020 as a candidate for protection under the ESA, and faces a follow-up listing decision in FY24. The Nokomis silverspot butterfly was proposed for a threatened listing in May 2022 and pending a final rule; and the western bumble bee faces an upcoming listing decision in FY25. The species status assessment process has begun for the Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee and American bumble bee (and its subspecies the Sonoran bumble bee). Furthermore, a notice of intent to petition the Morrison's bumble bee for a threatened listing was received by Western states in Summer 2023. The need for current and widespread data for these species is immediate and necessary to inform such listing decisions by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as for developing conservation strategies and best habitat management practices. Community scientists and agency field biologists contributed voluntary observation data for occurrences of monarch, milkweed, and bumble bee species to improve understanding of distribution and needs of these species in Utah and potentially prevent the need for ESA listings.

This project continues several years of successful efforts with community scientists and took place throughout Utah, with additional concentration on the regions with outstanding data gaps. Between July 1st 2022 and June 30th 2023 we have trained and coordinated approximately 250 community science volunteers who have contributed more than 475 hours to submitting data for opportunistic and previously-selected site surveys. Our in-person training event on April 22, 2023, was attended by 168 community science volunteers, and the recorded training was accessible on the Utah Pollinator Pursuit and Sageland Collaborative websites for additional reference. Volunteers using the UPP form on the Survey123 app reported at least 100 monarchs at various life stages, 670 bumble bees representing 17 detected species, and 10 potential monarch habitat sites were assessed by volunteers. Monarch butterfly sightings were reported by volunteers in all 29 Utah counties. Agency biologists who conducted volunteer bumble bee surveys visited 9 high priority sites, as well as additional sites when possible, in remote areas on public lands across Utah. Additionally, in a first for the UPP project, 7 rare butterfly sightings were submitted to Survey123 -- most notably including a habitat site visit and submission of 17 Nokomis silverspot males and 6 females.

These data were recorded through the Utah Pollinator Pursuit collection form developed for this project in the Survey123 application and then incorporated into a statewide database managed by insect conservation coordinator, Amanda Barth, which has also been streamlined for incorporation into the Utah Natural Heritage Program and NatureServe databases. Bumble bee specimens collected by agency biologists around Utah have been gathered by Amanda Barth for pinning and species confirmation, and will be donated to the bee collection at Utah State University where specimen details will be digitized and publicly-accessible.

Tasks completed in FY23 include:
Volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement efforts were both in-person and recorded for perpetuity and accessibility on project webpages. Sageland Collaborative (formerly Wild Utah Project) and USU created outreach materials, instructional videos, printable species identification guides, and live webinar and volunteer appreciation events that were accessible through the UPP project website and Sageland Collaborative's webpage and social media accounts.

To target specific habitat quality and occupancy questions, a monarch habitat assessment protocol was developed and a select number of sites were suggested for volunteer monarch habitat assessment efforts. Agency biologists were trained on-site (or retrained via video call) at high priority habitat locations on BLM and USFS land, to demonstrate correct bumble bee survey protocols at locations designated by a western bumble bee habitat model developed by USGS.

The Utah Pollinator Pursuit data collection form on Survey123 was updated for accuracy and to facilitate submission of bumble bee survey data by agency biologists. Quality assurance and control was performed largely by the Rare Insect Conservation Intern, an ESMF-funded position matched by the USU QCNR Student Internship Program; this intern spent most of their position assisting with bumble bee surveys and trainings, species identification, and data processing for monarchs and bumble bees such as data entry into the Natural Heritage Program database (Biotics).

Monarch and bumble bee data collected through the 2022 field season were reported to the Western Monarch and Milkweed Mapper and Bumble Bee Watch (both managed by Xerces Society), as well as the Utah Natural Heritage Program database through Biotics. These current data will enable the generation of updated state conservation rankings. Bumble bee data were also shared with the USFWS Pacific Northwest regional office leading the species status assessments for Western, Suckley's cuckoo, and other petitioned/under-review bumble bee species.

The botany crew, led by native plant conservation coordinator Mindy Wheeler, continued to collect seed from native plant species to be distributed to local growers and used in future pollinator habitat restoration projects. One such project is the Utah Pollinator Habitat Program, which opened its second year of habitat kit applications in Spring 2023, and received more than 340 applications for restoration projects in 24 Utah counties seeking to plant 35,000 native pollinator-friendly plants.

Sageland Collaborative has maintained and updated the Utah Pollinator Pursuit website, including organizing content and facilitating public engagement and education. The website includes community resources, an events calendar, all training materials and species guides, and recommendations for landowners to create pollinator habitat. In addition, Sageland Collaborative sent 9 pollinator emails to 663 subscribers on the Pollinator list. Of those 9 formal communication emails, 6 were newsletters/recruitment/larger emails, and 3 were training and event reminders.

Amanda Barth

09/07/2023 15:35:18