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.
Take a Video Tour of the McGuire Center
The Center also houses a large visitor gallery with public-facing laboratories and the Butterfly Rainforest, a flagship exhibit that showcases hundreds of free-flying butterflies from around the globe in a truly immersive nature experience.
Latest Research
Tracking the origin of southern California’s latest invasive pest
In 2012, a crop of California’s most prized ornamental trees was overrun by an invisible invader. The growing shoots of…
Moths enlist additional troops in an evolutionary arms race
While a clear night sky might seem quiet and peaceful to us, empty of everything but stars, this nocturnal world…
New hawk moth species are among the smallest ever discovered
Hawk moths are known for being some of the largest night fliers in the insect world. With wingspans of more…
See more Lepidoptera research…
McGuire Center News
Staff Updates
The McGuire Center recently welcomed two staff members into new positions. Yi-Ming Weng is a new postdoctoral research associate of…
Caterpillars!
As fall approaches, we look forward to cooler weather and more time outdoors to enjoy nature. Searching for caterpillars is…
Flashback – Allyn Museum of Entomology
On February 9th, 1981, Arthur C. Allyn, Jr. signed an agreement transferring the assets and collections of the Allyn Museum…