Ecology on the Wing: Behavior of Butterflies and Friends

Butterflies are one of the best-known and most intensively studied groups of insects. They are easily observed, readily identified, and offer a wide array of behaviors to study and interpret. Their complete metamorphosis permits comparison of the ecologies of four distinct life stages (egg, larva, pupa, and adult), each of which displays unique adaptations to the entirely different habitats occupied. This short course is a field workshop that will explore the diversity of butterfly ecology and behavior of both the adult and immature stages, emphasizing their important roles in natural ecosystems (e.g., as pollinators). Field experiences, readings, and lectures will provide an overview of ecological adaptations of butterflies to their environment. A variety of simple but powerful field investigative techniques will be learned that the student can use in research, teaching, or for personal enrichment.

This class requires advance registration to ensure appropriate planning for the field experience.

About the Instructor: Dr. Boyce Drummond is a biological consultant and a visiting Associate Professor at Colorado College. He is a Research Associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Gillette Museum of Arthropod Biodiversity at Colorado State University, and the Florida State Collection of Arthropods at the University of Florida. A past Director of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Dr. Drummond is co-author of Florissant Butterflies: A Guide to Fossil and Present-day Species of Central Colorado.