Areas for Conservation of Kansas butterflies. What can we do?
Butterflies play a crucial role in ecosystems as pollinators and indicators of environmental change, making their study essential for conservation efforts. In Kansas, the diverse array of butterfly species provides an ideal system for investigating ecological patterns, tracking ecosystem changes over time, and developing targeted conservation strategies. However, the lack of detailed knowledge of butterfly species’ distributions across the state can affect the design and implementation of such strategies. We present potential distributional areas for butterfly species across the state, identifying regions of high species richness as well as under-sampled areas. Our investigation also highlights gaps in knowledge regarding species-specific habitat preferences and host plant associations. We particularly focus on butterfly species that rely on native plants, such as milkweed (Asclepias spp.), prairie clover (Dalea spp.), and blazing stars (Liatris spp.), underscoring the importance of preserving native prairie ecosystems. Additionally, this study emphasizes the role of community engagement in monitoring butterfly diversity as well as planting and preserving native host plants.