Category: Programs
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Chase, Tag, Adopt: The Evolution of Tracking Monarch Migration in the Pacific Northwest
Dr. David James Monthly Program presentation May 6, 2026 Dr. David James will present an overview of the history of tracking monarch migration in the Pacific Northwest from Bob Pyle’s pioneering ‘chasing’ of monarchs in the late 1990s, to the 2012-2025 WSU tagging program, to the exciting advent of solar-powered electronic tracking, which will begin…
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Conservation, genomics, and conservation genomics: the case of a curiously isolated and endangered butterfly
Dr. Zachary MacDonald Monthly Program presentation April 1, 2026 For decades, a small population of hairstreak butterflies in Waterton Lakes National Park was assumed to be the Half-moon Hairstreak (Satyrium semiluna), even though it occurs more than 400km from the nearest known populations. Using a new chromosome-level reference genome and whole-genome sequencing, we found that…
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“The Underwing Moths (Catocala) of Taylor’s Ridge, Walker Co., Georgia and a nod to other locations in Georgia (and Covid 19)” Or “Gorgeous Nigtflyers with a Surprising Superpower”
Dr. James Adams Monthly Program presentation March 4, 2026 The Underwing Moths are one of the most popular groups of moths among budding nighttime lep enthusiasts! These are gorgeous moths, and Taylor’s Ridge, or some area similar to it along the southern reaches of the Appalachians, likely represents THE hotbed of diversity for this genus…
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Like a Butterfly to a Flame? Butterfly Recolonization Following Fire
David Droppers Monthly Program presentation February 4, 2026 David has stumbled upon a new project. After the Bolt Creek Fire of 2022, he is seeking to understand how butterflies recolonize after a wildfire in the coniferous forests of western Washington and how it compares to other fire studies in other habitats. See who has appeared…
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Resurrection Ecology of the Xerces Blue Butterfly.
Presenter: Stuart B. Weiss, Ph.D Monthly Program presentation December 3, 2025 The Xerces blue butterfly (Glaucospsyche xerces) occupied sand dunes in western San Francisco but urban development drove it into extinction by the 1940s. Starting in the 1990s, many acres of sand dune habitat has been restored in the Presidio, including the presumptive hostplant of…
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“A Pylean Potpourri in Silver, Copper, and Blue”
Dr. Robert Michael Pyle Monthly Program presentation November 5, 2025 Bob Pyle will present a mash-up of four of his present butterfly passions: Part I: “The Mariposa Copper Revisited: History, New Discoveries, and First Genomic Results;” Part II: “Resurrection Ecology: Inspiration, Background, and Preview for Stu.” Part III: “Eastern Tailed Blues in Western Washington, and Their…
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Imperiled Washington Butterflies: Status, Needs and Strategies
Dr. David James Monthly Program presentation October 1, 2025 The WDFW has identified 21 butterfly species in Washington with greatest conservation need (SGCN). Ten of these are sub-species but 11 are true species which we may be in danger of losing if we do not pay attention to them and develop conservation plans for. David…
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Pieridae Family Identification
David Droppers Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Our scheduled speaker wasn’t able to join us this month, so our marvelous David Droppers gave a presentation on identification of the Pieridae family of Whites, Marbles and Sulphur butterflies of Washington state. Paulette Murphy WBA Board Member, WBA Program Director, Research Scientist
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Native Pollinators in our Gardens
Julie O’Donald This presentation will focus on native plants and common native bees, as well as butterflies. Apr 2, 2025 Julie O’Donald is a Community Wildlife Habitat Steward and retired Master Gardener with over 35 years experience creating wildlife friendly gardens. She has focused on the use of native plants in the home landscape and…
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Final results of his butterfly inventory project on the Mountain Loop Highway
David Droppers David Droppers reports the final results of his butterfly inventory project on the Mountain Loop Highway. He had conducted this project in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, and presented his results now that the field work is completed. So what did he find? What has been hidden in relatively unsampled Snohomish County? And…
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Red Blindness, Red Vision and Far-Red Vision of Butterflies
Dr. Gary Bernard Feb 5, 2025 Dr. Gary Bernard is an Affiliate Professor of Electrical Engineering at UW and a long-time WBA member. He is not only a researcher, but also a fieldworker, notably participating in a 2009 butterfly survey of Mt. Tompotika on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The title of Gary’s talk is ‘Red…
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The Continuing Saga of a Moth on the Move
When: Dec 4, 2024 Summary: Dinumma deponens, an erebid moth from southeastern Asia, was first taken in the U.S. in north Georgia in 2012. Since that time, the moth has spread throughout much of the range of its introduced hostplant in the eastern U.S. (Silktree, frequently called Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin). The spread has been quick…
