Monarch Banding event is Saturday in Anderson Prairie

The migration of the monarch butterflies to Mexico has begun, and the Luther College entomology class will host its annual monarch butterfly migration banding event in Anderson Prairie on the Luther College campus from 1:00-3:00 pm Saturday, September 14, 2019.

The monarch butterfly has declined dramatically over the past 20 years, and efforts are being made across Iowa to increase monarch abundance by providing suitable habitat that includes nectar sources for adult butterflies and milkweed for the caterpillars. 2019 appears to be a "good year" for monarchs. In 2018 two of the monarchs banded were recovered at overwintering sites in central Mexico.

Participants should bring a butterfly net if they have one. Check in at the parking lot behind Shirley Baker Commons, where butterfly nets can be checked out to capture monarchs. Turn into the driveway/parking lot across College Drive from the main entrance to the college. Travel to the top of the hill and park. In case of cloudy, windy, or rainy weather, the event will be cancelled.

Banded monarch