Comparing butterfly assemblages along Missouri roadsides and in remnant prairies

Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) populations have experienced declines over the last several decades, with habitat loss and degradation identified as primary threats. In the United States, less than four percent of the original prairie remains, contributing to butterfly declines in the central United States. Roadsides, which are frequently mowed and might resemble semi-natural grasslands, have the potential to support butterflies with proper management. The goals of this research are to 1) compare butterfly and flowering plant assemblages in remnant prairies and the adjacent semi-natural grassland roadsides, and 2) compare butterfly and flowering plant assemblages among roadsides with differing adjacent vegetation, both in west-central Missouri. Butterflies and flowering plants will be surveyed with Pollard walks and quadrats, respectively, in summer of 2025. Surveys will take place along 300m transects within rural roadsides adjacent to grassland, forest, row crops, and a combination of the three vegetation types. Based on work in other states or countries, we expect that remnant prairies will have more grassland specialist species of butterflies and flowers compared to the adjacent roadsides, but that the roadsides will have an overall higher species richness than prairies. When comparing roadsides, we expect that roadsides bordered by row crops on both sides will have the lowest butterfly and flower species richness and abundance, while roadsides bordered by both grasslands and forest will have the highest. The purpose of this research is to contribute to knowledge of butterfly assemblages along Missouri roadsides to help inform roadside management efforts to support pollinators and their habitat.