Twenty years (2000-2020) of butterfly monitoring data across the contiguous United States

Erica H Henry; Collin B. Edwards; Vaughn Shirey; Jeffrey S. Pippen; Dave Waetjen; Matthew L. Forister; Elise A. Larsen; Cheryl B. Schultz; James Michielini; Nathan Brockman; Kevin J. Burls; Ryan G. Drum; Martha Gatch; Jeffrey Glassberg; Nancy Hamlett; Shiran V. Hershcovich; Catherine Le; Steve McGaffin; Jen Meilinger; Lisa Richter; Regina Rochefort; Charles Schelz; Arthur M. Shapiro; Katheryn Sullivan; Douglas J. Taron; Wayne E. Thogmartin; Anna Walker; Anita Westphal; Jerome Wiedmann; Irmgard U. Wilcockson; Jennifer Zaspel; Leslie Ries

doi:10.1038/s41597-025-05513-8

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Twenty years (2000-2020) of butterfly monitoring data across the contiguous United States

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Abstract

We present the most comprehensive, integrated, butterfly monitoring dataset ever assembled for the United States. It contains over 1.2 million count records, from 65,000 surveys, representing over 12.6 million individual butterflies. To compile this dataset, we integrated data and harmonized taxonomy across 19 butterfly monitoring programs in the United States – one national, 13 statewide, and 5 local (e.g. individual county or National Park) in scale. In addition to the data, we also provide the taxonomic dictionary used to crosswalk butterfly taxonomy across programs, and the code used to assemble the integrated dataset. The publication of this dataset will inspire new analyses of butterfly population trends and drivers that help to identify solutions to the biodiversity crisis.

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Scientific Data Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 25.08° to 49.38905° latitude; -124.68721° to -66.96466° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Erica H Henry, Collin B. Edwards, Vaughn Shirey, Jeffrey S. Pippen, Dave Waetjen, Matthew L. Forister, Elise A. Larsen, Cheryl B. Schultz, James Michielini, Nathan Brockman, Kevin J. Burls, Ryan G. Drum, Martha Gatch, Jeffrey Glassberg, Nancy Hamlett, Shiran V. Hershcovich, Catherine Le, Steve McGaffin, Jen Meilinger, Lisa Richter, Regina Rochefort, Charles Schelz, Arthur M. Shapiro, Katheryn Sullivan, Douglas J. Taron, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Anna Walker, Anita Westphal, Jerome Wiedmann, Irmgard U. Wilcockson, Jennifer Zaspel, Leslie Ries. 2025-11-22. Twenty years (2000-2020) of butterfly monitoring data across the contiguous United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05513-8

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