Conservation Connection
The Incredible Diversity of Iowa Moths and Butterflies
Iowa is home to about 110 butterfly species, and over 2,000 moth species! Butterflies and moths are related: both are in the insect order Lepidoptera, which roughly translates to “scaled wing”. Most of us think of moths as the ugly stepsisters of butterflies, but this is not true! In fact, I would call moths the sleeping beauties of our natural world (they are beauties that are often active while we sleep). Don’t continue to sleep on the incredible beauty of Iowa moths, and get to know our butterflies better!
The Best Nitrogen Analogy Ever
All the learning of a college lecture on the nitrogen cycle, with ten times the fun!
High nitrate this spring: where and why
Nitrate has been higher than usual in Story County this spring, but what about rivers in the rest of Iowa? Why now?
The Incredible Diversity of Iowa Bees
June is National Pollinator Month! While many animals can act as pollinators (from bats to butterflies to beetles), this month we are choosing to celebrate the most efficient pollinators of them all: native bees!
It’s Rude to Point, but…
During our 2022 spring water monitoring event, most of the nitrogen in Ioway Creek came from one percent of the land area in the watershed.
Volunteers in the Creek All Week
Fourteen people tested water quality in Ioway Creek and its tributaries on Tuesday. Twenty-one people hauled trash out the creek on Saturday.
Take it Easy for Pollinators This Spring!
Signs of spring and warmer weather can be energizing, motivating us to start spring-cleaning our homes inside and out. However, some pollinators are still resting in their winter homes and cleaning up your lawn too soon can be detrimental to the new generation.
Rivers Routinely Ruin Riprap Revetments
A paddling trip on the South Skunk River uncovers some interesting history. Hopefully we’re getting smarter about how to handle eroding banks!
New Pollinator Conservation Specialist Jessica Butters Joins PRI Staff
Prairie Rivers of Iowa’s new Pollinator Conservation Specialist Jessica Butters's background includes extensive knowledge about Iowa’s ecosystems and native bee conservation. She’s a graduate of...