AMES, Iowa ― Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a monarch and pollinator field day on Aug. 21 at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City. The program will run from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and includes a field tour of the monarch and pollinator habitat planted at Prairie Ridge Care Center (1005 7th Street NE, Orange City, Iowa). It is designed for landowners and families who want to learn more about planting pollinator habitat.
There is no cost to attend the event, but please RSVP to the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County office via email at bbunkers@iastate.edu or phone 712-737-4230. Refreshments and on-site parking will be provided.
Seth Appelgate, agricultural specialist with Iowa State, will speak about establishing monarch and pollinator habitat. Information about habitat assistance and cost share programs will be provided by Troy Davelaar, biologist with Pheasants Forever.
“The monarch butterfly population east of the Rocky Mountains has declined over the past 20 years, and Iowa can play a big role in their recovery,” said Appelgate. “Monarch larvae feed exclusively on milkweed while adult monarchs depend on nectar plants as food sources. Iowa State has established habitat demonstration projects across the state and is collecting data from these sites in order to develop habitat establishment best management practices and to help researchers understand how monarchs utilize the new habitat.”
For youth attending the field day, Monarchs on the Move will offer hands-on activities. Monarchs in the Move is a 4-H program created through ISU Extension and Outreach, with activities that focus on monarch biology, habitat and ways to increase habitat for monarch butterflies and pollinators. Youngsters can experience life as a monarch caterpillar on a milkweed plant with a life-sized milkweed model and explore satellite images to look for opportunities to plant habitat.
More information about similar field days at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/monarch-and-pollinator-field-day…
Additional contact
Lisa Burg, Community Education, Orange City Area Health System, 712-737-5367, burgl@ochealthsystem.org
