We use this blog to share the recent updates to the Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) database, such as new site features, new sets of photographs, bulk updates of sighting records, and new species accounts. To see recent activity, visit the recently verified sightings and recently shared photographs pages. To subscribe to the blog, click the icon and follow the directions supplied by your internet browser.

BAMONA's blog

Photographs from RaisingButterflies.org

Submitted by BAMONA on Tue, 2011-12-27 11:22

We are proud to announce the addition of 584 early butterfly life stage photographs to BAMONA. These new images of eggs, larvae, and pupae are a valuable addition to our growing image gallery of early stage photographs of the Lepidoptera. We hope the gallery will help users make identifications or comparisons between related species.

Browse all photographs of butterfly and moth eggs, caterpillars, or pupae.

This fantastic set of photographs were taken by Todd Stout (who maintains RaisingButterflies.org) and were watermarked and added to the database by Leslie Bahn. In addition to the photographs, 122 new sightings of these species were added to the database and are viewable on species pages.

We invite any photographer to submit photographs for the image gallery so we can continue to increase the number of represented species. Learn how.

Mark your calendar for National Moth Week July 23-29, 2012

Submitted by BAMONA on Wed, 2011-11-30 12:02

Mark your calendar now for the first National Moth Week, July 23-29, 2012.

National Moth Week is a celebration of moths and biodiversity. With more than 10,000 species in North America alone, moths offer endless options for study, education, photography and fun. Moths are found everywhere from urban and suburban areas to wild and remote places. The diversity of moths is simply astounding. During National Moth Week attend a Moth Night event, start one, get some friends and neighbors together and check the porch lights, set up a light or bait, or simply educate yourself and read literature about moths. Visit www.nationalmothweek.org to register a moth night or to learn more about activities associated with this event.

Please consider taking photographs and sharing your data with BAMONA. Go to the Get Involved page to learn how to submit your sightings to us.

Caterpillar Photographs Needed

Submitted by BAMONA on Fri, 2011-09-16 13:02

We are working to expand our image gallery by adding new photographs of early life stages: eggs, larvae (caterpillars), and pupae. You can help! If you have submitted a sighting of a caterpillar (or egg or pupa) and it has been accepted, we might consider adding your photograph to the image gallery and species page. Go to our "Share Photographs" page find out how to get your photograph in the image gallery.

We are most interested in photographs of species or instars not already documented in the gallery. Visit the gallery and view all the caterpillar images to see how you can help.

Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail

Submitted by BAMONA on Mon, 2011-09-12 10:25

A recently published paper indicates that the Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail evolved from hybridization of two other types of swallowtails. Learn more.

Mississippi Entomological Museum data

Submitted by BAMONA on Tue, 2011-08-30 08:12

Over 2,300 moth records from the Mississippi Entomological Museum were added to the database for species from families Limacodidae, Zygaenidae, and Megalopygidae.

Connecticut Butterfly Atlas Project

Submitted by BAMONA on Fri, 2011-08-19 12:01

Data collected as part of the Connecticut Butterfly Atlas Project (CBAP) have been added to the Butterflies and Moths of North America database. The CBAP dataset includes 13,246 new verified species occurrence records. Explore the CBAP dataset.

Vermont Butterfly Survey data

Submitted by BAMONA on Wed, 2011-08-17 10:16

The Vermont Butterfly Survey data have been added to the Butterflies and Moths of North America database. This dataset contains 31,636 georeferenced records of butterfly species (and a few charismatic moth species). Thanks to Kent McFarland for spearheading the effort to prepare this dataset for addition to the database.

Explore the dataset, or go to the complete Vermont butterfly checklist.

Citizens wanted for Cascades Butterfly Project

Submitted by BAMONA on Tue, 2011-08-09 12:09

Volunteer Citizen Scientists are being recruited for the Cascades Butterfly Project, a long-term effort in six locations in the Cascades Mountains to help biologists identify and count subalpine butterflies. Six protected areas in the Cascade Mountains are collaborating on this new monitoring program: North Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest, Skagit Valley Provincial Park, and Manning Provincial Park. Find out how to get involved.

Miami Blue Butterfly Emergency Listed

Submitted by BAMONA on Tue, 2011-08-09 11:50

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that it is taking emergency action to protect the Miami blue butterfly. Upon publication of the emergency rule on August 10, 2011 in the Federal Register, the Miami blue becomes listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The emergency listing immediately protects the butterfly for 240 days. Concurrently, the Service is issuing a proposed rule to permanently put into place the protections for the Miami blue beyond the 240-day emergency period. Read the press release.

BAMONA wins award

Submitted by BAMONA on Fri, 2011-06-17 15:01

Butterflies and Moths of North America has been selected as one of the MARS Best Free Reference Web Sites of 2011.

BAMONA is one of 25 web sites to be recognized by MARS this year as an outstanding site for reference information. Other recipients include Google's Translator, WikiLeaks, The ICUN Red List of Threatened Species, and the Public Library of Science (PLOS). It is an honor to be in the company of these giants.

MARS is the "MARS: Emerging Technologies in Reference" section of the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association. See the full list of MARS Best of Free Reference Web Sites of 2011.

Thank you to all of our volunteer coordinators and submitters for your enduring support of this project.

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