Enewsletter
March 2018
Spring is officially here, although the weather in many regions doesn't completely agree, with 60 degree days alternating with chilly rain or snow. Signs of insect activity are evident, more so in warm regions than elsewhere. Fruit tree blossoms are a-hum with bees, mining bees have emerged to forage on willow, and Indiana is getting an official state insect. Thanks to the efforts of an incredible group of young advocates, second grade students from Cumberland Elementary in West Lafayette, Governor Holcomb will sign a proclamation this Friday declaring that Say's firefly, a native species, is Indiana's official state insect. Amazing!
Last week, a group of 56 scientists that includes many prominent researchers studying the effects of neonicotinoids sent a letter to California's Department of Pesticide Regulation highlighting the threat neonicotinoids pose to the health of California's waterways. The letter, organized by Xerces staff, urged CDPR to take steps to reduce neonicotinoid contamination of the state's streams and rivers.
For twenty years, the Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count has monitored the number of monarch butterflies overwintering in California. Last year we added a second count, the New Year Count. Monarchs are mobile and they move around through the season. Combining the data from the two counts gives insights into site and rangewide population changes
Many of us are still waiting for consistently warm weather to arrive, so we can get into our gardens and parks - but what can we do until then?

 
Check out our events page for talks and workshops about sustainable farming, protecting watersheds, conservation biocontrol, pollinator conservation, and for information about upcoming webinars.

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Photo: Xerces Society/Matthew Shepherd

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