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10-Minute Presentation

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-min: P-IE, Conservation and Pollinators

Rare and at-risk butterfly species in the USA: Assessing trends and data availability

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
10:48 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, E147-148, OCC
Oral Presentation
In recent years, a number of studies have identified trends and drivers of population change in butterfly species. These studies often focus on widespread and common species to achieve sample sizes for statistical analysis. However, these species may not be representative of complete butterfly communities. For example, in the US, state- and federally-listed species are disproportionately likely to be univoltine, and voltinism is often associated with trends in abundance. Species at range margins are also less likely to be common in areas of range expansion. Furthermore, only 5 of 36 butterfly taxa protected under the US Endangered Species Act are protected at the species level; for 31 butterflies the protection is at the sub-species level. Analyses done at the species level would not capture the drivers of at-risk subspecies within these groups.

To assess the status of data for rare and at-risk butterfly taxa, we compiled a list of species and subspecies considered at-risk by national, regional and state-level organizations. Our final dataset includes 269 species and subspecies of potentially at-risk butterflies. To obtain as much data as possible for these species, we surveyed USFWS and state agency staff to assess knowledge about datasets and contacted individuals within these organizations directly if their positions involved assessment or recovery of butterfly species. We discuss the status of these taxa and the implications of limitations in our knowledge for broadly understanding trends in abundance of butterflies in the United States.