August die-off after aerial spraying sparked widespread furor 7:00 am, Mar. 5, 2021 ×
A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a thistle flower on Friday, July 10, 2020, at the Monsanto Pollinator Habitat along Center Street in West Fargo. David Samson / The Forum
FARGO Late last summer, a mass die-off of monarch butterflies occurred in the Fargo-Moorhead area after aerial spraying was conducted to control mosquitos.
Images of the aftermath, including photos of dead monarchs, captured the attention of social media as well as national and international mainstream media.
Ultimately, state agencies tasked with regulating pesticide applications determined the aerial sprayer hired by Cass County Vector Control, which conducts aerial spraying to control mosquitoes over the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, committed no violations when it sprayed for mosquitoes the evening of Aug. 26.