The butterflies we enjoy watching in Maryland overwinter here as eggs, pupae, or adults – except the monarchs. In the 1970s, citizen-scientists helped locate “our” monarchs overwintering as adults high in the mountains of Mexico. Over the past 50 years, the people living in this region (who have known about the monarchs for centuries) and environmentalists from Mexico, the US, and Canada, collaborated to create a system to funnel money from butterfly tourism into the local economy. I visited the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in January and will share the story of the butterflies and the people who depend on this ecosystem.
Robin Wilson, MD PhD grew up on the beach in California expecting to become an internationally known field researcher, but discovered she was too wimpy to withstand the rigors of an outdoor life and too unfocused to become a good scientist. After completing a biology degree and a PhD in genetics, she ran off to medical school and works as a neurologist and a folk musician.
This meeting will take place in person at the museum, but there will also be a Zoom option for those who prefer to participate virtually. Register to get the Zoom link and passcode.
If you love butterflies and moths, consider joining the Lep Club. The Lep Club is made up of novice and expert lepidopterists who meet to exchange knowledge and support concerning habitat, threats, food sources, identification, and life cycle of butterflies and moths. Club meetings encourage a sharing of knowledge for the raising and breeding of moths and butterflies through hands-on lessons and guest speakers. Club members are also involved in outreach in the greater Baltimore community through educational programs and service projects. Most club meetings feature a guest speaker who shares their knowledge on a topic related to moths and butterflies. Meetings also include time to distribute caterpillars and eggs.
To become a member: https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/
To learn more about all NHSM Clubs: https://youtu.be/pIA7naRjXws