From the Woods Committee: Buy your pollinator plants from reliable sources recommended by the Indiana Native Plant Society, Grow Natives. Or try to grow them from seed. Mary Blackburn has butterfly milkweed seeds( Aesclepsia tuberosa, a low growing yellow milkweed that thrives in sunny, dry locations). Let her know if you would like some!
Harmful Pesticides Found in Milkweeds from Retail Nurseries
Article from Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
A new study released in Biological Conservation found harmful levels of pesticides in milkweed plants purchased from retail nurseries across the United States. Pesticides were found in all plants tested, raising alarms for monarch conservation efforts that rely on planting milkweed sourced from commercial nurseries. (PORTLAND, Ore.; August 31, 2022). 38% of the samples had residue levels that could harm monarchs’ ability to migrate and forage, primarily due to high levels of fungicides. Fungicides have generally been overlooked as an issue for insect conservation efforts. Plants labeled “wildlife-friendly” from stores and nurseries included in the study did not have fewer pesticides in or on the leaves of the milkweed plants. In some cases, plants with wildlife labels had more harmful pesticide residues.
“This study provides a great starting point to help ensure the growing number of pollinator-gardens are of the highest quality possible,” said Aimee Code, Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Consumers can let their nurseries know they want plants that are free from harmful pesticides.
“It’s important to keep gardening for pollinators for the long term," said Code. "Just take steps to reduce pesticide exposure: cover new plants the first year, water heavily, discard the soil before planting, as it may be contaminated, and avoid pesticide use.”
The study’s findings highlight the need for nurseries to ensure that plants being sold as pollinator-friendly are also pollinator-safe.
Read the full article here.