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News Release 12-049
Early Spring Drives Butterfly Population Declines
"Ahead-of-time" snowmelt triggers chains of events in the Mormon Fritillary butterfly
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![Photo of a Mormon Fritillary butterfly feeding on an aspen fleabane daisy.](/news/mmg/media/images/fritillary1_f.jpg)
A Mormon Fritillary butterfly feeding on an aspen fleabane daisy, a main nectar source.
Credit: David W. Inouye, Department of Biology, University of Maryland
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![Photo of a researcher catching Mormon Fritillary butterflies in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.](/news/mmg/media/images/fritillary2_f.jpg)
A researcher catching Mormon Fritillary butterflies in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Credit: Carol Boggs
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![Photo of Mormon Fritillary butterflies mating in the Rocky Mountains.](/news/mmg/media/images/fritillary3_f.jpg)
Mormon Fritillary butterflies mating in the Rocky Mountains: will this population survive?
Credit: National Park Service
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![Photo of frost-killed bud of aspen fleabane daisy.](/news/mmg/media/images/fritillary4_f.jpg)
A frost-killed bud of aspen fleabane daisy; the frost damage means no nectar for butterflies.
Credit: David Inouye
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![Photo of a Mormon Fritillary caterpillar on violet.](/news/mmg/media/images/fritillary5_f.jpg)
A Mormon Fritillary caterpillar on violet; plants in this genus are eaten by the caterpillars.
Credit: Carol Boggs
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![Photo of a Mormon Fritillary caterpillar feeding on a leaf.](/news/mmg/media/images/fritillary6_f1.jpg)
Last of the Mormon Fritillary butterflies? Early snowmelt may be to blame.
Credit: Carol Boggs
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