Press Resources for 8/19 Massachusetts Butterfly story

Press Release: Mass. Butterflies Move North as Climate Warms

Nature Climate Change study: Climate driven changes in northeastern US butterfly communities

Photos & Video

The Giant Swallowtail, a southern butterfly historically only seen as an occasional stray in New England, has been present in conspicuously high numbers in Massachusetts in recent years, with scores of reports in 2011 and 2012. It may now be breeding in the commonwealth.  This individual was photographed August 15, 2012 in Westport MA (Photo credit: Frank S. Model).

Observations of the Zabulon Skipper, another southern butterfly historically rare in Massachusetts, have increased by 18 fold in the past 19 years.  This individual was photographed August 15, 2012 in Westport MA (Photo credit: Frank S. Model).



The Atlantis Fritillary (left) and Acadian Hairstreak (right), both northerly distributed species, have declined by more than 80% in Massachusetts in the past 19 years but have no formal protection, while the southerly distributed Frosted Elfin (below), which has increased by 1000% in the same period, receives formal protection and active management in Massachusetts (Photo credits: Frank S. Model).

2012 Video: Butterfly Habitat in Massachusetts 

(featuring Elizabeth Crone, Greg Breed, and the Massachusetts Butterfly Club; video by Roberto Mighty of Celestial Media)

Interview Contact

To schedule an interview with Greg Breed, Harvard Forest post-doctoral fellow and lead author of the study; Elizabeth Crone, co-author and Harvard Forest senior ecologist; or Sharon Stichter of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, contact Clarisse Hart, Harvard Forest Outreach Manager: 978-756-6157, hart3@fas.harvard.edu