KANSAS CITY, Mo. — People are starting to see butterflies more frequently in Missouri’s outdoors, whether in the backyard or wild places.
Coral hairstreak butterfly. Photo by Krista Noel, Missouri Department of Conservation photo
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will teach about butterflies and how to help with scientific surveys with a virtual Butterfly Survey Training session from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14.
“Even if someone doesn’t want to do surveys, it’s a great introduction to Missouri’s top 25 butterflies,” said Lisa Richter, MDC naturalist. “I will start with photographs of those 25 beautiful species, and then I will move on to how doing the surveys works.”
Great spangled fritillary butterfly. Photo by Paul McKenzie, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The surveys involve individuals or teams going afield to designated sites to report on the numbers of butterflies spotted and identified. The data helps biologists and scientists monitor butterfly population trends. Those trends can also be an indicator of habitat quality for butterfly species and other pollinators. The survey is a chance to enjoy the outdoors and give science a boost.
This program is open to all ages. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4wA.