INaturalist and Seek
Download the Seek app on your phone: you can use your camera to identify butterflies and caterpillars you’re not sure of. When you create an iNaturalist account, fellow observers can help you check your observations. I can’t overstate the value of this resource!
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
There is a wealth of information at Xerces.org! They have lists of native plants that support butterflies and other invertebrates, suggestions for alternatives to pesticides, webinars, and more.
Homegrown National Park
This movement founded by Doug Tallamy provides ways to make your yard (or patio, or balcony) into a habitat that supports biodiversity. The grassroots collective aims to get backyard “parkland” registered with a certain number of acres per year. You’ll find publications by founder Doug Tallamy on the book recommendations page. This is just an incredible resource for everyone.
Starry Skies South and Dark Sky
Because moths and even migratory butterflies can be distracted and disrupted by light, Starry Skies South and DarkSky.org offer great information about light pollution and its hazards to humans and wildlife, with wonderful suggestions for limiting your light footprint. You can even certify your yard!
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation has a wealth of information about building a backyard habitat, and all sorts of incredible classes. One of their classes (at the South Carolina Botanical Garden) provided me with a lot of these photos. Join, follow, donate~ they’re great!
The Home and Garden Center at Clemson University
The Home and Garden Information Center at Clemson University is a great resource for learning about all butterflies and native plants. Once you start exploring these resources, it’s hard to stop!
Journey North
Journey North is another citizen science database that provides a chance for you to both enter data and track monarch migration in almost real time. They also provide lesson plans and other resources.
Audubon South Carolina
Check out Audubon South Carolina’s bird friendly gardening suggestions: plants that are good for birds are often great for butterflies and caterpillars. Their South Carolina centers at Beidler and Silver Bluff are worth a visit. Several butterflies in this book were photographed at Beidler! Join, follow, visit, donate!
Alabama Butterfly Atlas
The Alabama Butterfly Atlas provides lots of information about each species, and an incredible database of butterflies and host plants. If you are looking for more information about a particular species, check them out.
Butterflies and Moths of North America
This is a more technical citizen-science program for entering your butterflies, sharing photos, and keeping lists, but if you like listing and learning more about each species, this is a great option.
Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida
This is also an incredible resource for information about life stages of different butterflies. They had the ONLY example of a photo of a falcate orangetip caterpillar I was able to find on the web, and they have great species accounts.
The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin is a great place to learn about native plants that support wildlife and pollinators!
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census
This is another community science project gathering data about pollinators and native plants. Participants can enter data and learn about creating sustainable pollinator habitat, and they have incredible identification resources. Join and participate!