Butterflies of Maine

The Distribution and Ecology of the Butterflies of Maine

This talk will center around the findings presented in the Butterflies of Maine and Maritime Provinces, to be published this fall by the Cornell University Press. This publication is based on a citizen-science project (the Maine Butterfly Survey or MBS) with field work conducted between 2003 and 2019. Many WMAS members contributed to the project.

We’ll begin with a description of the distinguishing features of the five families of butterflies found in Maine. Then, we’ll explore the changes in distribution of many species, including a new North American record and other state records as well as the extirpation of some species. We’ll look at the importance of habitat in determining the presence of different butterfly species and conclude with an exploration of the effects of climate change on butterfly distribution.

Herb Wilson is a Professor of Biology at Colby College where he teaches Ornithology, Evolution and Diversity, Marine Ecology and Marine Invertebrate Zoology. His primary research interests are the impacts of global climate change on bird migration and the foraging behavior of winter birds in Maine.