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Attracting more butterflies

Scouts plant milkweed to help endangered monarchs

By Jane Myhra


The Iola Cub Scouts are planning for more butterflies by planting milkweed along Iola’s River Walk.

“We need to get more and more Monarch butterflies because we only have a few,” said Treyson Graham, a member of Cub Scout Troop 3631.

The Cub Scouts were told it will take about two years to attract the monarch butterflies to the food source.

In early November, the Cub Scouts learned about monarch butterflies at Mosquito Hill Nature Center, in New London.

They listened to a program about the anatomy, life cycle, diseases and migration cycle of the Monarch butterflies. Then they looked into microscopes to see what OE spores look like on an infected butterfly.

Afterwards, they went into a field and collected milkweed seeds, the only food source for the butterflies.

These seeds were taken to the Iola Lions River Walk to be planted along the banks of the South Branch of the Little Wolf River. Following instructions they learned at Mosquito Hill, the Cub Scouts carefully placed the milkweed seeds under tall grass.

“We need to grow milkweed so the monarch butterfly can lay their eggs under the leaves,” said Preston Johnson.

The project was initiated by Katie Hyland, Pack 3631 committee chair. Her goal is for the Iola Cub Scouts to participate monthly in a conservation project or a community service.

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