Saving the Regal Fritillary The Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia) is one of the largest and most spectacular butterflies found in North America....About ten years ago, the Regal Fritillary could only be found in a single nature preserve in Indiana. This year, the Fort Indiantown Gap Training Center won the [Environmental A]ward for its efforts in preserving the Regal Fritillary Butterfly and its habitat, building nesting boxes and tracking migratory patterns of 12 bird species, restoring five acres of wetlands, and conducting prescribed burns to manage fuel loads and forests. [more inside]
posted by caddis on Jul 16, 2008 - 3 comments

The world’s weirdest moths l Moths that drink the tears of sleeping birds l Awesome moth camouflage l Buff Tip moth l moths magnified l Jim des Rivières' moth portraits [more inside]
posted by nickyskye on Oct 21, 2007 - 39 comments

The Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly was thought to be extinct in 1982, after its primary (and federally protected) habitat was (allegedly) destroyed by the City of Ranchos Palos Verdes. But in 1994, butterfly enthusiasts discovered that it had apparently survived LA's best efforts to destroy it. It even spawned a PC app (that anyone can download) aimed at tracking insect populations. These days, it's doing better.
posted by hifiparasol on Apr 3, 2007 - 4 comments

I used to raise lepidoptera as a kid. Other people still do, and some even sell livestock.
posted by plinth on Jun 2, 2000 - 0 comments