Nature Lab at Work

A Typical Day

Morphew says a typical day for her depends on the season and the weather forecast.

“In the spring, summer, and fall, I alternate between conducting field work for research, inventory, and monitoring projects and catching up on work in the office,” Morphew said. “Basically, this means, if it’s not raining, I’m probably outside catching insects and surveying flower communities.”

Most of the winter months are spent in the lab, studying and identifying the insects collected over the year.

Notable Projects

In 2024, Morphew worked on a pollinator and plant inventory in southeast Missouri. The project required regular visits to the few remaining sand prairies in the Bootheel.

“These natural communities are so unique, and increasingly rare, so taking the time to learn more about the special plants and insect species that are restricted to these habitats only deepened my appreciation for Missouri’s diversity,” Morphew said.

Morphew has also assisted with the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas, a statewide community science project focused on tracing and conserving our native bumblebees. 

“I am incredibly proud of the work we have done with the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas,” Morphew said. “Although I was not in this position when my predecessors started this project, I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to provide support for our coordinators and volunteers, who are so enthusiastic and motivated. They have impressed me each and every summer with their commitment to conducting bumblebee surveys and contributing to this important effort.”

How You Can Help

Sign up to conduct surveys for the Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas and/or the Monarch Joint Venture Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program. Download iNaturalist to your phone and take pictures of insects and plants to add to our overall understanding of diversity throughout the state. Just go outside, sit or take a slow walk, and learn to notice and appreciate insects without fear and judgment. “This is key to insect conservation.”