The McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity represents the largest collections-based research and education center in the world focused on butterflies and moths. The collections are taxonomically comprehensive and contain more than 10 million specimens, which are widely used by an ever-growing global community of students and scientists. The Center documents past and present patterns of biological diversity and forms the basis for research ranging from climate change and emerging agricultural pests, to evolution and biodiversity conservation.
Milestones and momentum
Looking back at our first 20 years helps shape our vision of what we hope to accomplish in the years to come. From extensive collections to innovative research to conservation initiatives, our community of scientists, students, volunteers and supporters has been making fundamental strides in our understanding of the vital role butterflies and moths play in the natural world.
Celebrating 20 YearsLatest Research
Butterfly mimicry reveals a supercharged biodiversity feedback loop
Key points Scientists constructed a family tree for butterflies in the genus Adelpha, which are native to North and South…
The Florida Museum of Natural History publishes “The Butterflies of California,” a book five decades in the making
Key points The Florida Museum of Natural History recently published “The Butterflies of California.” The book was co-written by the…
The Florida Museum at Entomology 2025
Once a year, thousands of people from dozens of countries all converge on one city to share the latest news…
See more Lepidoptera research…
McGuire Center News
Creature Corner: Atlas Moths at the McGuire Center
The Rainforest Exhibits at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History features many…
Outreach Events at the McGuire Center — Fall 2025
The McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity has continued to make public outreach a priority during the temporary closure of…
Monarch Migration and the University of Florida – upcoming programs and a brief history of research and conservation
The McGuire Center and University of Florida have a deep history of studying the extraordinary phenomenon of Monarch migration, where…