As national butterfly numbers tumble, UNC biologist says citizen-science can help

America’s butterfly population is in a state of rapid decline involving hundreds of species, a new national study finds.

The decline is concerning because butterflies are important pollinators for the state’s crops and a vital food source for birds. That’s according to Allen Hurlbert, a professor of biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

He started Caterpillars Count!, which relies on non-scientists to help document sightings of arthropods. That’s how the national butterfly study was put together – through a citizen-science collaboration.

Hurlbert says the approach does more than just gather numbers. 

“I am also very interested in getting more people to pay attention to the natural world around them," he says. "And this is an approach that does both things right. It gets people helping collect data that will answer scientific questions, but it also opens their eyes, to like, ‘Oh my gosh. I had no idea these cool leaf hoppers are in my backyard.’”

Hurlbert says there are things North Carolinians can do to stem the loss of butterflies, including cutting back on pesticides and planting milkweed to provide food for Monarchs. Native plants offer flowers for butterflies and leaf litter for caterpillars.