Imagine trying to follow a butterfly. Not for a few minutes through a garden, but for miles—as it crosses neighborhoods, farmland, highways and eventually entire states. For generations, scientists studying monarch migration have faced an obvious problem: butterflies are small, fast and remarkably easy to lose. Traditional tagging has helped researchers piece together their incredible
When most people walk through a natural history museum, they see beautiful displays of butterflies carefully arranged in glass cases. What many don’t realize is that these collections are far more than exhibits—they are living libraries of scientific knowledge. Museum butterfly collections help researchers understand how species have changed over time, monitor environmental health, identify
How Museum Butterfly Collections Help Protect Species for Future Generations Read More »
There’s a quiet shift happening in conservation—and it doesn’t start in a lab. It starts in backyards, along walking trails, and in those moments when someone pauses just long enough to notice a butterfly. That simple act of noticing is at the heart of community science, and it’s becoming one of the most important tools
A Rare Piece of Good News for Monarch Butterflies If you’ve been following butterfly conservation over the years, you know the story hasn’t always been a hopeful one. But this spring, something remarkable has happened. According to a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund, the eastern monarch butterfly population has increased by 64% during
A Hopeful Turn: Monarch Butterflies Are Making a Comeback Read More »
Monarch Butterfly Series — Part 1 The quiet season of the monarch butterfly is a period of stillness and survival that unfolds far from the summer gardens and open fields where most people expect to see monarchs. As winter settles across North America, millions of monarchs rest quietly in the high elevation forests of central
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Did you know the tiniest of butterflies is hiding the biggest genetic secret in the animal kingdom? Move over blue whales and elephants — the Atlas blue butterfly (Polyommatus atlantica) has just earned the record for the highest chromosome count of any multicellular animal on Earth: a jaw-dropping 229 pairs. That’s not just a world
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A while back, we shared a blog about the incredible journey of the monarch butterfly as it begins its spring migration north from the highlands of central Mexico. Now that spring is in full swing, let’s pick up where we left off and follow those iconic orange-and-black travelers as they continue their epic voyage. So,
Follow That Butterfly! How Monarchs Find Their Way Home. Read More »
Milkweed is much more than just a beautiful addition to your garden—it’s a lifeline for monarch butterflies. As butterfly lovers, we know how important it is to create habitats that support and nourish these incredible creatures. That’s where milkweed comes in! In this blog post, we’ll dive into the significance of milkweed for butterflies and
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At The Butterfly Connection, we believe in the wonders of nature and how they can inspire sustainable solutions for our modern world. One of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena is the intricate design and functionality of butterfly wings, which, when studied, reveal fascinating connections to cutting-edge technology like solar energy. But how do butterfly wings
Ever found yourself looking at a butterfly and thinking, Wow, that’s one magical creature? Well, brace yourself, because butterflies have something pretty wild going on with their eyes—something you might not expect. Get ready for an eye-opening adventure (pun intended!) as we dive into the world of butterfly vision. 🦋 Up to 17,000 Mini Eyes?
Whoa, Did You See That? A Dive into Butterfly Eyes Read More »
