Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 5/3/22

When 4-H Embryology was cancelled due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on April 5, 2022, Liz Driscoll, 4-H Horticulture and Entomology Specialist, and Mary Fosnaught, 4-H Poultry Specialist, teamed up to assist 4-H agents that were scheduled to provide incubators and eggs to teachers and classrooms a safe alternative to 'hatch’ butterflies instead. Through the generous support from the Center for Integrated Pest Management, state 4-H, and Cooperative Extension, over 250 classrooms and thousands of elementary school students across the state of North Carolina were able to still enjoy a 4-H hands-on experience to learn about life cycles. Carolina Biological partnered with the effort by providing free shipping of kits so that children from Cherokee County to Pender County and many between were able to receive larva (in a feeding station container as depicted) along with a flight cage (for the adult butterfly), and educational materials in order to witness the magic of butterflies ’emerging’ instead of chicks 'pipping’ and hatching. To learn about more 4-H opportunities with poultry or bugs reach out to Mary Fosnaught (mhfosnau@ncsu.edu) or Liz Driscoll ( liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu).

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