Butterflies

Climate change could be taking a toll on the smallest creatures in the Mountain West. A new study finds insect populations in one mountain valley have plunged by more than 70% in recent decades. Scientists say this trend could shake the food chain in alpine areas across the region.

Butterfly populations are declining in the Sierra Nevadas. Scientists at the Great Basin Bug Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno have been monitoring the insects for years. But to know if climate change is having an impact, they are now tracking caterpillar populations.

Bees, butterflies and other insects are not considered wildlife in many Western states, including some in the Mountain West. That can affect bugs – and humans.

Wide open spaces, like much of Wyoming, are known to be strongholds for pollinators like butterflies. They often contain critical habitat and food...

Yet another study is showing an alarming decline in butterflies across the warming American West. The latest research, led by the University of Nevada,…