By HELEN MCKERNAN POLLINATOR Day and Persian Picnic at the Euroa Arboretum is this Saturday, October 12. It’s a family day with craft activities for kids and opportunities to catch, identify and release insects. A significant event will be a talk from two scientists on the rare and endangered Matchstick Grasshopper. There will also be a presentation on moths, a grassland exploration and fun for kids to transform themselves into their favourite bug or butterfly. It’s free but bookings essential at: https://euroaarboretum.com.au/event/pollinator-day-and-persian-picnic/. This project initiated by Strathbogie Ranges Conservation wants people to encourage more native pollinators to visit their gardens, farms, orchards or even window boxes. Everyone can help to boost local pollinators by planting reservoirs or insectariums with a diversity of native species that provide nectar and pollen. While we know that honey bees are versatile and important crop pollinators, many of our native bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and moths are equally or more efficient pollinators. The project is a response to declining numbers of insects from the use of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides and loss of habitat. In winter 100 Pollinator Packs were given out to people who applied to create insectariums on their properties. These were custom designed by the Euroa Arboretum and Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank. Many of the plants will be flowering now and we hope, attracting many pollinators.
