May, 2020 - By Koaw

Originally I posted a short video on this topic encouraging people to use iNaturalist for seeking identification help. I will expand this page to include more resources as well as other tips and tricks.

Butterflies are like the eye-candy of our natural world. Often they move around with a sporadic fluttering that somehow remains so peaceful.

I believe when we are able to identify the butterflies around us then the more we care about how they are doing. We then tend to wonder more about the health of the plants supplying sustenance to the butterflies. Eventually we are caring more about an entire ecosystem. This is how we make the world a more livable place for all creatures. We learn a little, we care a little more, and we do alittle more to see that all life around us has a fair chance at living.

-K

BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION RESOURCES

iNaturalist - This is the online database/identification tool mentioned in the video. Their software does very well at identifying your butterfly and will offer better suggestions if you provide adequate location data. Other enthusiasts and experts of butterflies will also help you identify your butterfly. https://www.inaturalist.org

Discover Life’s Butterfly ID Guide - They have an interactive ‘check the boxes to all that apply’ sort of guide for North American species. It’s very cool. https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Butterflies

BugGuide.net - This site is always a nice resource of insect identification in North America. https://bugguide.net/node/view/57

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