ODNR gave a presentation on Ohio pollinators at the May 2016 Lake Improvement Association meeting. Learn more at http://www.lakeimprovement.com.

1. Creating and Improving Pollinator Habitat in the
State of Ohio

2. Problem
 Nectar sources and their dependent species are in
decline.
 native bees
 butterflies
 Need Spring, Summer, Fall Blooms.
 The Monarch host plant, is lacking on the landscape.

3. Purpose
 Create and improve pollinator habitat
across the State of Ohio.
 Increase and improve pollinator
conservation awareness for all Ohioans.

4. Past Year
 Monarch Listing Petition
 White House Strategy Directive
 FWS/USGS Monarch Map
 New Highway Bill

5. Monarchs
 Need Nectar plants blooming July – Sept.
 Need Host Plant – Milkweed sp.
 Undisturbed Milkweed in Aug.
 Connectivity – We need gas stations that are
closer than five hundred miles apart. How far
can YOU go on a tank of gas?

6. Monarch Life Cycle
Photo sources: Michelle Solensky, Denny Brooks, Mary Holland, Dave Astin, Wendy Caldwell

7. 7
Instar: Period between larval molts. Monarchs have 5
instars.
Egg
First
Instar
Fifth Instar
Karen Oberhauser

8. 8
Larva in the
‘J’ Stage
New Monarch Pupa
Mary Holland

9. 9
Monarch ready to
eclose
A new adult monarch!
ARKive Video
Mary Holland

12. Monarch Life Cycle and Migration
Monarch Lab, Journey North

13. Monarch Life Cycle and Migration
Monarch Lab, Journey North

14. Monarchs
 No one wants to see the Monarch listed.
 Landscape Level Effort
 Create and protect enough habitat to prevent listing.
 If everyone does all they can, the effort to increase
Monarchs will be successful.

15. Monarch and Pollinator Habitat
Helps Other Wildlife Too!!

16. OPHI - One Year Old
 ODOT – Pheasants & Quail Forever Projects
 AEP Projects
 USDA - NRCS
 Statewide Network of Partners
 Pilot Seed Program – 1.5 billion new stems
needed nationwide!
 Monarch Joint Venture Partners!!

17. • Honey Bees: Reduce honey bee colony losses during winter
(overwintering mortality) to no more than 15% within 10
years.
• Monarch Butterflies: Increase the Eastern population of the
monarch butterfly to 225 milllion butterflies occupying an area
of approximately 15 acres (6 hectares) in the overwintering
grounds in Mexico, through domestic/international actions and
public-private partnerships, by 2020.
• Pollinator Habitat Acreage: Restore or enhance 7 million
acres of land for pollinators over the next 5 years through
Federal actions and public/private partnerships.
NATIONAL STRATEGY TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF
HONEY BEES AND OTHER POLLINATORS
 Pollinator Health Task Force

18. Federal Highway Bill
 Decreased Mowing Strategies
 Supportive of pollinator habitat via ROWS
and other strategic areas
 Realize the importance of Milkweed “Monarch
Flower”

19. ODOT - Federal Highway Bill

20. ODOT Projects – Auglaize Co.

21. Transmission Line Examples
 New Albany Study Plots
 Currently underway and will include:
 Several plots representing beneficial vegetation for pollinators,
song birds, game birds and wildlife and opportunities for public
outreach and education.
 Dawes Arboretum Transmission line
 Licking County – US Rt. 36 Approx. 1/3 acre of native grass/forbs
and beneficial vegetation for pollinators.
 Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area
 In planning phase:
 Essential pollinator nectar, host plant and stop-over/nesting
native grasses. Also will include introduction to alternative
maintenance techniques geared toward pollinator health and
longevity.

22. USDA Efforts
 Farm Service Agency (FSA)
 Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS)
 NRCS - EQIP Bee Initiative – This past year,
occurred in 24 Ohio counties… potential for
Statewide 2016?
 FSA CRP Pollinator Practice – CP42 1,300 acres in
Ohio currently (room for more)
 FSA CRP Monarch Safe Proposal in Approval Process
 FSA CRP Mid-Contract Mgmt. – cost share incentives
for landowners to create pollinator blocks or strips
 NRCS 10 State Monarch Pilot Program

23. • Core committee established a milkweed seed banking
program collecting common and swamp milkweed across
central Ohio.
• Collected seed has been separated from the silk, dried and
is being properly stored to ensure germination. Seed will be
tested by universities for viable germination.
• The seeds will then be potted in late winter in time to
ensure proper growth by time of distribution.
• The established milkweed plugs will be distributed to OPHI
recommended projects within the areas of the state where
the initial pod collection took place and other strategic sites
throughout the state in 2016.
• The pilot project in central Ohio will allow for refinement of
this project before it is initiated statewide.
Milkweed Pod Pilot Project

24. All Hands On Deck
 Urban
 Suburban
 Rural
All you can – Where you can!

25. Opportunity
Areas
• CRP, WRP
• Roads,
Railroads,
ROW’s
• Schools,
churches,
businesses
• Parks, golf
courses,
cemeteries
• Prisons
airports,
fairgrounds
• Backyards
• More!

26. Partnerships
OPHI is seeking partners to achieve
the goals of creating pollinator &
Monarch habitat and educate
Ohioans on the importance of
pollinators.

27. $2,000 from Darke County Pheasants Forever for
Pollinator Public Relations efforts.
 4 billboards throughout Summer
 News Releases and PSAs
 Pollinator Workshop in Shelby County

28. We’d like to thank our primary partners in this
initiative:
Thank You!