SWCD issues milkweed collection reminder

It’s that time again! The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative is calling on Ohioans for a fifth year of Milkweed pod collections! Milkweed is the only host plant for the Monarch butterfly for egg laying and caterpillar rearing. It also serves as a food source for Monarchs as well as many other pollinator species. The disappearance of milkweed across the U.S. has contributed to the 80% decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years. We are working hard to change this and you can help! Let’s make our collection efforts in 2020 even better by following these simple tips!

• Make sure that before you collect seed, you become familiar with the common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed

• It is best to collect the pods when they are dry, grey, or brown.

• If the center seam pops with gentle pressure, they can be harvested.

• Store the pods in paper bags; NOT plastic bags since it will collect unwanted moisture.

• Put the date and county collected on the bag when you turn them in.

• Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you can deliver them to our office at 110 Industrial Dr #G, in Wapakoneta.

Collections start September 1st and goes until October 31st. If you have questions regarding milkweed collection, please contact our office at 419738-4016

For more information on Milkweeds refer to this video! http://u.osu.edu/beelab/milkweedseed/