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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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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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A researcher catching Mormon Fritillary butterflies in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Credit: Carol Boggs
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Mormon Fritillary butterflies mating in the Rocky Mountains: will this population survive?
Credit: National Park Service
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A frost-killed bud of aspen fleabane daisy; the frost damage means no nectar for butterflies.
Credit: David Inouye
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A Mormon Fritillary caterpillar on violet; plants in this genus are eaten by the caterpillars.
Credit: Carol Boggs
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Last of the Mormon Fritillary butterflies? Early snowmelt may be to blame.
Credit: Carol Boggs
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