Join community science outreach naturalist Julia Pupko from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) in her presentation of “Lady Beetles of Vermont: Invasions, Extirpations, and Discoveries” on Thursday April 1st at 6:30 PM.

Click the following Zoom link on the appropriate date and time to join the program: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86399884938?pwd=T3o2QzI2ZTJmVU0zb0ovRnJrMDBoUT09

Native lady beetles play an important role as biological pest control agents. However, native beetle populations have been in decline across North America due to a number of factors. How are native lady beetle populations doing in Vermont, you may ask? Well, that is a great question to which we do not totally have an answer (yet). Vermont's lady beetles seem to be following continental trends of decline, but due to lack of modern data, we do not understand what native lady beetles remain in Vermont, how their populations are doing, or what conservation initiative may need to be implemented. This presentation showcases what the Vermont Atlas of Life team at VCE is doing to address the lack of modern, Vermont-specific lady beetle data; why we are calling on community naturalist volunteers to help us; and what some of our findings have been thus far. Within this, I discuss how interested participants can contribute to this project and conclude by highlighting some of the incredible native lady beetle species found right here in Vermont.

To learn more about Julia Pupko and her various roles at VCE: CLICK HERE

We hope to see you there!

Cover Photo: Parenthesis Lady Beetle © Kent McFarland