Bumble bee flying to milkweed
It’s Pollinator Week again, (June 17-24), and the Sullivan County Conservation District is counting on YOU to take photos of insects on flowers. Last year, our own Dr. Erin Zagadailov of Lady Grantham Apiary won the SCCD contest without leaving her garden simply by taking photos, uploading them onto iNaturalist and SHARING them with the website so researchers could access her information. Pollinator Week is national, but here in New Hampshire, it builds on NH’s Butterfly Monitoring Project (https://www.nhbutterflies.org/) described in detail in the April 25th blog post "Butterflies Count."
New research this year has expanded from merely identifying species in New Hampshire to assessing what plants our pollinators actually prefer. This is important as non-native plants differ in their ability to preserve populations of native bees and butterflies. This means your garden is more important than ever in helping researchers address the Insect Apocalypse.
As a general rule if you want a garden that is buzzing with life, avoid pesticides, sterile hybrids, double florals, and, whenever possible, do plant NH native plants. Record your findings all year long and SHARE them with iNatualist. Believe me, researchers are looking at your photos — including ones you took years ago in your garden if the date and GPS data are recorded. Get started now!
New research this year has expanded from merely identifying species in New Hampshire to assessing what plants our pollinators actually prefer. This is important as non-native plants differ in their ability to preserve populations of native bees and butterflies. This means your garden is more important than ever in helping researchers address the Insect Apocalypse.
As a general rule if you want a garden that is buzzing with life, avoid pesticides, sterile hybrids, double florals, and, whenever possible, do plant NH native plants. Record your findings all year long and SHARE them with iNatualist. Believe me, researchers are looking at your photos — including ones you took years ago in your garden if the date and GPS data are recorded. Get started now!
Monarch on black eyed susan
Bumble bee and honey bee share a zinnia
Swallowtails 'puddling' when it's easy to get close to them--usually only males 'puddle'
