Floral Resource Availability and Butterfly Community Characteristics in CP-42 Pollinator Habitat Plantings

Prairies once covered approximately 85% of Iowa, but due to extensive habitat loss less than 0.1% of native prairies remain (Smith 1998). Habitat loss in Iowa has been driven by agricultural expansion and intensification, and has resulted in the decline of many native insect pollinators. To curb habitat loss and restore habitat for pollinators, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides private landowners incentives to enroll agricultural land into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Pollinator Habitat (CP-42) practice. The CP-42 conservation practice requires landowners to seed at least 9 species of pollinator friendly wildflowers, legumes, or shrubs on enrolled lands. CP-42 seed mixes must include least three species during each of three bloom periods (April-June 15, June 15- July, and August-October) (USDA 2011). About 50% of all CP42 acres are seeded in Iowa (USDA 2018). We have developed methods for evaluating floral resources and habitat quality for butterflies at CP-42 sites in central Iowa. Our study will produce data to assess the quality of habitat produced by the CP-42 program and to provide information about the effectiveness of the CP-42 program to Farm Service Agency