PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 2, 2026
MEDIA CONTACTS:
| Tracy Zarrillo, Assistant Agricultural Scientist 1 Department of Entomology The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Phone: 203-974-8473 Email: Tracy.Zarrillo@ct.gov |
Dr. Kelsey E. Fisher, Assistant Agricultural Scientist 2 Department of Entomology Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Phone: 203-974-8561 Email: Kelsey.Fisher@ct.gov |
New Haven, CT - Pollinators are essential to healthy ecosystems and food production, yet many species are facing serious declines. Connecticut is home to a remarkable diversity of wild bees, each with unique needs and conservation challenges. Effective bee conservation is not one-size-fits-all, and understanding their unique needs is the first step. Monarch butterflies have also declined across their range. To increase awareness about how to best support wild bees and monarchs, scientists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have released new fact sheets in the pollinator information section of the CAES website that highlight five science-based actions the public can take to support wild bees and monarchs. For more details, see our publication on the impact of milkweed leaf age on monarch survival, growth, development, and feeding behavior (https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17020215), which provides scientific support for these recommendations. Our guidance focuses on creating natural habitats that sustain wild pollinator communities. Together, we can make a difference for pollinators and the ecosystems they sustain.
Protecting Agriculture, Public Health, and the Environment
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