Butterfly Lifespan Study

Butterfly Pavilion monitors some of the butterflies in our conservatories to study the lifespans of species in our care.

How long do butterflies live? That’s a common question asked at Butterfly Pavilion! The answer is that the lifespan of a butterfly depends on many factors, such as their diet, environment, and species.

At Butterfly Pavilion, we are studying the lifespan of butterflies in both our Wings of the Tropics exhibit in Westminster and at the butterfly house at the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins.

Our Lepidopterist Manager leads staff and volunteers in tagging butterflies with small colored stickers with identifying numbers, then releasing them into the exhibits. As staff work in the exhibits, they record when they observe tagged butterflies, allowing us to track the lifespan of individual butterflies and estimate the average longevity of the different butterfly species in our care.

We’ve found some butterflies living over six months in our exhibits!

The data collected on butterfly behavior and longevity helps us improve our care and welfare practices in the conservatory, and make sure our butterflies are as happy and healthy as possible.

Butterfly Quest

Butterfly Pavilion’s Butterfly Quest is a unique opportunity to assist with Butterfly Pavilion’s Butterfly lifespan research, while exploring the world of animal behavior. Help observe tagged butterflies, record meaningful data, and share your discoveries — all on your phone. By participating in Butterfly Quest, you are helping our scientists shape animal welfare here and in zoos around the world!

Butterfly houses, like our Wings of The Tropics, offer a unique opportunity to understand and observe the lifespan of different butterfly species. We are always looking for new ways to improve animal care. To do this with our butterflies, we need to know how long they live and how they behave while under our care.

To collect this data, we tag some butterflies upon emergence from their chrysalides. We can then track individuals and truly understand how our butterflies spend their time in their home.

This is where YOU come in! Your contributions to Butterfly Quest help us expand our knowledge of butterflies.

Receive 10% discount on items in Butterfly Pavilion’s gift shop by completing a quest, submitting a form, and taking a survey!

Fun facts about Butterfly Quest

Butterfly Pavilion and Bureau of Land Management Colorado Collaboration

Research and Conserve Invertebrates

Butterfly Pavilion is partnering with the Bureau of Land Management Colorado (BLM CO), City of Longmont and City of Boulder to estimate the diversity and relative abundance of daytime pollinators on public land. This project examines several habitats that represent the more than 8.3 million acres of public land in Colorado.

Butterfly Pavilion and BLM CO scientists have conducted a baseline survey data on invertebrates across the western half of the state. These efforts will help inform conservation of these species, including those proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act, such as monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and western bumblebees (Bombus occidentalis).

The Importance of Invertebrates

These animals make up 97% of all species on earth. Invertebrates have no backbone, yet they are the backbone of all life on earth. They are the basis of most food webs, pollinate the vast majority of flowering plants, decompose waste, aerate the soil, and improve water quality. Life on our planet would collapse without them. Conserving these vital animals means conserving life as we know it.

Baseline data is needed for public land to properly implement management strategies that preserve biodiversity and protect invertebrate species. In the last four decades, conservation biologists have estimated a 45% decline in invertebrate populations worldwide.

Field Surveys Across Colorado

Butterfly Pavilion entomologists and researchers have already surveyed over 60 locations across the west. Locations are co-selected with local land management and represent major ecosystem types in Colorado including sagebrush regions, grasslands, arid deserts, forest, alpine regions, and urban development. Survey locations span across the four major watersheds in Colorado (Upper Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas-White-Red, and Missouri Rivers).

During these surveys, researchers record which species are present, how many of each species are present, and what flowers they are visiting. Each morning, traps are set at sample sites, and specimens are collected at the end of the day. During the wait, researchers use net to collect invertebrates on flowers. Peak hours for most invertebrates are mid-to-late mornings to early afternoons when it is warmest.

Observations in the Field

However, this is not always the case. Andrew Draper, the project coordinator for pollinator research, recalls a stormy day that prompted multiple velvet ants to emerge from the ground.

“Flying invertebrates such as bees thrive in warmer weather, while velvet ants burrow to escape the heat. As soon as cloud cover appeared, so did the velvet ants.”

Our researchers have seen many different invertebrates in the field, such as swallowtail butterflies, bumblebees, beetles, wolf spiders, and many more. Butterfly Pavilion researchers work diligently in the field, so much so that friendly sweat bees often land on them to collect their perspiration as they survey the areas!

Impact of the Research

The data and samples collected from this project will help inform future land management decisions, better describe pollinator species in the area, and understand their conservation needs. Scientists are examining species abundance and diversity between sites to best inform our scientific conservation and education recommendations.

The data, including flower association, is also used to update our pollinator gardening and Environmental and Ecological Services recommendations. Findings are submitted to the specific municipality to support the Endangered and Threatened Species Program working to protect sensitive populations in Colorado.

The Urban Prairies Project (UPP) improves the ecological health of urban and suburban open spaces along the Front Range and beyond by connecting community members with habitat conservation for pollinators and other wildlife.

UPP recognizes the strong connection between healthy green spaces and human well-being, and works with municipal and community partners to make nature close to home healthier for all.

Over the last century, the shortgrass prairie ecosystem that once dominated Colorado’s Front Range has declined to less than one-fifth of its original area. Alongside this loss, we’ve seen significant declines in native plant and animal species, key ecosystem processes, and access to nature that supports human health.

The Urban Prairies Project provides opportunities to directly counteract these losses—whether through one-time volunteer projects near home or through deeper engagement as a trained Restoration Master Volunteer.

 

Restoration Master Volunteer Program

Restoration Master Volunteers (RMVs) complete a core training in restoration principles and techniques, native ecosystems, crew leadership, and community outreach.

After training, volunteers can choose how they want to get involved:

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in one—or all—of these opportunities based on their interests.

No experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome!

How to Get Involved

  1. Attend an Urban Prairies Project community event to get started.
  2. Become a Restoration Master Volunteer:
    • Submit a volunteer interest form
    • Attend a Restoration Master Volunteer training session
    • Join the RMV community and receive updates on projects, monitoring programs, and additional training opportunities
    • Participate in restoration projects, data collection, and community outreach

Training Information

Restoration Master Volunteer trainings are typically offered twice per year (Spring and Fall). Trainings include multiple sessions covering core restoration topics and hands-on learning.

For more information or to get involved, contact: awhite@butterflies.org

BioBlitz

A BioBlitz is a short, intense biological survey that aims to record as many species in a specific area as possible. Butterfly Pavilion researchers are experienced in surveying for invertebrates and we often work with partners to perform BioBlitzes around Colorado.

Invertebrate BioBlitzes usually consist of one day of intense fieldwork and weeks to months of specimen preservation and identification. Butterfly Pavilion experts lead these BioBlitzes then identify and analyze the invertebrates sampled so that we have an inventory of our native invertebrates and can monitor changes to these communities before and after restoration efforts.

Upcoming Bioblitz’s: 

Community Bioblitz at Kneebone Open Space – Sunday, June 14, 2026

From 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. we’ll use iNaturalist to identify the plants and animals of Kneebone Open Space. the data we collect from this event will be compiled and shared with city of lafayette to help assess the biodiversity at Kneebone and to inform future habitat management decisions on the space. UPP RMVs are also collecting monthly pollinator surveys at Kneebone to assess pollinator abundance and floral visitation. We are also on the lookout for invertebrate SWAP (state wildlife action plan) species! Register here. 

Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network (CBMN) is a community science project led by Butterfly Pavilion that harnesses the power of volunteers to conserve Colorado butterflies.

Established in 2013, the Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network (CBMN) is a long-term community science project led by Butterfly Pavilion that harnesses the power of volunteers to conserve Colorado butterflies.

Butterflies are not only beautiful, but they also play a vital role in the ecosystem, serving as both pollinators and as food for other animals. Knowing which butterflies are active in our state gives us important information about the health of our local ecosystems.

CBMN volunteers observe and record butterflies in open spaces and parks multiple times per season, gathering essential data that land managers can use when making conservation decisions. It’s a fantastic chance to get outdoors and learn about butterflies while having a positive impact on conservation in Colorado.

No experience is necessary to participate and all are welcome!

Click here to sign up and get started

Click here for current volunteer resources

Interested in Participating? Here’s How!

  1. Submit a Monitor Sign-Up Form and attend a training session before the start of the monitoring season (~2 hours).
  2. Receive a site assignment from CBMN or establish a new monitoring route near you (pending approval).
  3. Visit your site 3+ times between May and September, conducting a survey on each field day.
  4. Submit your field data online on PollardBase after concluding your monitoring sessions.

Click Here For Volunteer Resources

Training Locations

Butterfly Pavilion is studying how tarantulas interact with their environment to better understand the conservation needs of our native species.

Did you know that tarantulas live right here in Colorado? In the southern prairies and western steppes, species like the Texas brown (Aphonopelma hentzi) and Grand Canyon black (Aphonopelma marxi) build underground burrows and wait for unsuspecting insects to pass by.

These fascinating spiders play an important role in local ecosystems—both as predators that help control insect populations and as prey for other wildlife. Understanding where and why tarantulas live in certain areas is essential for protecting their habitats.

Current Research

Under the supervision of Butterfly Pavilion’s research and conservation team, a PhD candidate from Colorado State University is studying tarantula ecology in southeastern Colorado. Researchers are surveying tarantula burrows to better understand what factors influence where these spiders live.

Key questions include:

This research will help scientists determine how to conserve habitats that support healthy tarantula populations and broader prairie ecosystems.

Why It Matters

Studying tarantulas gives us insight into the health of prairie ecosystems and helps guide conservation strategies for native species. These often-misunderstood animals are a vital part of Colorado’s biodiversity and deserve protection.

In addition to field research, Butterfly Pavilion is also exploring how education and interaction can shift public perception and increase appreciation for invertebrates.

Colorado Fireflies

Did you know that Colorado has native fireflies? Most people are unaware of this due to light pollution and development destroying their habitat. Learn about Butterfly Pavilion’s initiative to conserve these small yet mighty animals and how you can do your part!

As firefly populations decline at alarming rates, Butterfly Pavilion is working to understand how to rear and conserve native fireflies through its Firefly Lifecycle Project.

Fireflies—bioluminescent beetles found in small, localized wetland habitats across Colorado—play an important role in their ecosystems. They act as predators of invertebrates like snails and earthworms and serve as prey for birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Their presence is also an important indicator of healthy wetland environments.

However, firefly populations are under threat due to habitat loss, water pollution, and increasing light pollution. To better protect these species, Butterfly Pavilion researchers have been studying their lifecycle and environmental needs since 2017.

Research & Rearing Efforts

Each summer, researchers collect a small number of adult fireflies under permit from wild populations in Colorado. These adults are brought back to Butterfly Pavilion, where they are carefully bred and monitored in controlled conditions.

Their eggs develop into larvae, which are raised in specialized lab environments. Researchers closely manage factors like moisture, food, and habitat conditions to better understand what triggers development from larva to pupa and ultimately to adult fireflies.

This process is incredibly complex—breeding fireflies under human care has only rarely been accomplished in the United States and remains a major scientific challenge.

Key Milestones

These milestones represent a critical step forward in understanding and conserving native firefly species in Colorado and beyond.

Why It Matters

Fireflies are more than just a magical part of summer nights—they are a key indicator species for wetland health. Their survival reflects the overall condition of ecosystems, including water quality and biodiversity.

By studying and successfully rearing fireflies, researchers can better understand their full life history and develop science-based conservation strategies. This work may eventually support restoring populations and protecting critical wetland habitats.

Butterfly Pavilion’s long-term goal is to establish sustainable, genetically diverse populations and contribute to large-scale restoration efforts, while also educating communities on how to protect firefly habitats—such as reducing light pollution and limiting pesticide use near wetlands.

Become a Community Scientist!

There is a lack of scientific research about fireflies, so we need your help! Become a community scientist and help Butterfly Pavilion track firefly populations around Colorado. Download and print out this datasheet and take it out into the field with you to collect sighting information.

Download Datasheet

Have you seen fireflies in Colorado? We want to know where! Submit your sighting below!

Submit Data

Public Locations for Firefly Viewing

Some parks are not open late enough for visitors to see fireflies during public hours, however, they may host guided walks to view fireflies after hours. Please respect the posted hours of all parks and check with them in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Firefly Facts

What are fireflies and why do they flash?

Fireflies are beetles in the family Lampyridae. Like other beetles, fireflies have six legs, two eyes, two antennae, a pair of wings, and a hard exoskeleton to protect their body. There are over 2,000 species of fireflies across the world. However, in Colorado fireflies exist in small populations dispersed throughout the state. Fireflies flash to find mates. Flashes are like a language for fireflies. Species have their own unique flashing patterns to recognize each other.

How do they flash?

Fireflies flash using bioluminescence. A chemical reaction takes place inside their light-producing organs. When oxygen is exposed to certain chemical compounds inside the organs, the reaction produces light. Not all fireflies flash as adults. There are three types of fireflies: flashing fireflies, diurnal fireflies, and glowworms. The diurnal (active during the day) fireflies do not flash as adults, though they may emit some light. Glowworms may flash or emit a constant glow. The fireflies that we refer to as “lightning bugs” are the nocturnal flashing fireflies.

What is their habitat?

Fireflies live near fresh water. They are often found near creeks, ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes, and even hot springs. They are commonly seen in forests, fields, and meadows near these sources of water. During the mating season, flashing females tend to wait on vegetation while the males fly, so wetland areas with low vegetation are popular.

What do they eat?

Larvae eat a variety of prey items, though some specifically eat soft bodied invertebrates such as earthworms, slugs, and snails. Some species don’t eat at all as adults, while others are predaceous. Females in the Photuris genus even mimic the flashing patterns of females in the Photinus genus to draw in males to eat them. Some adults consume nectar from plants and may act as pollinators.

How do they survive in winter?

Fireflies hatch from eggs in July through August then develop into larvae. The larvae are voracious predators and develop through multiple instars (stages of development). They protect themselves from freezing winter temperatures by sheltering in the ground or under tree bark.

Fireflies in Colorado

Which species are in Colorado?

We truly aren’t sure! A handful of species have been positively identified in Colorado; however, we lack scientific research about the exact species for many of the population. More research is needed to identify the firefly species in Colorado and their ranges.

Where can you see fireflies in Colorado?

Firefly sightings have been reported across the Front Range and in Western and Southeastern Colorado. Look for open spaces with wetlands. The flashing fireflies can be seen around late June through July when the nights in Colorado begin to warm up. They typically start flashing after 9:00pm.

Support

Why are fireflies important?

Fireflies are beloved for their unique light shows, but they also serve important ecological roles. They act as pest control for their prey species such as snails and slugs. They act as food for wildlife such as toads, frogs, newts, birds, and spiders. Some species which eat nectar and pollen may even act as pollinators.

How can we protect fireflies?

Fireflies are threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use and light pollution. You can protect firefly habitat by:

How can I get involved?

Become a community scientist and help Butterfly Pavilion track firefly populations around Colorado.