esigned for naturalists and scientists of varied abilities and interests, this seminar covers butterfly taxonomy, biology, behavior, and identification. Our aspiration is to learn about and identify butterflies as much as possible in the field. If we have sunshine, and therefore butterflies on the wing, we will be out all three days (with students watching video lectures at their leisure). Otherwise, we’ll have ample learning opportunities indoors with lectures and vivid butterfly photography. This seminar is well-suited for most anyone participating in the Vermont Butterfly Atlas (2023-2027).

Course Goals & Objectives

Students will:

• Learn or enhance their mastery of butterfly families and genera.
• Become proficient with species-level identification (including the classic challenges of skipper identification).
• Understand basic butterfly biology, including host-plant associations, voltinism, and reproductive strategies.
• Learn rapid field-observation and survey techniques, including net-photograph-release.
• Practice specimen preparation and curation (if there is interest and time permits).

A field entomologist, writer, and consulting field biologist, Bryan Pfeiffer is perhaps more than anything a teacher. Over the course of three decades, he has guided thousands of people to the discovery of birds, insects, and other nature in various wild places. Bryan was a co-founder of the Vermont Butterfly Survey and its principal field lepidopterist. He has collected, watched, and photographed butterflies from the tropics of Central America to above the Arctic Circle. He’s a lecturer with the University of Vermont’s Field Naturalist Program and is a research associate at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Find him online at www.bryanpfeiffer.com.

Physical Requirements

Participants must be able to walk 1-2 miles over the course of a day, sometimes off trail over uneven and potentially muddy terrain. Participants should be comfortable outside in potentially hot, muggy, rainy, and/or buggy conditions for long periods of time. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about mobility and/or other accessibility needs.

The course syllabus and packet will include a suite of readings suited to each student’s particular level of interest and expertise. It will also include recommended field gear.