About Us

Welcome to butterflyask.com , Let’s go

By Frances Obrien, Founder & Chief Editor

Our Beginning – One Butterfly, One Question, and a Field Notebook

For ButterflyAsk.com, that wonder began in 2019 when our founder, Frances Obrien, then a naturalist and environmental journalist based in Oxford, spent a quiet spring morning observing a fading Painted Lady resting on a cracked garden wall.

She realized something odd: nearly every “butterfly” resource online treated these winged marvels as decorative symbols or mere garden accessories. Few explored the complexity of their migration, anatomy, and ecological roles — and almost none spoke to the emotional connection people feel when one lands on their hand.

That morning, she opened a notebook and wrote one question:

“Why do we know so little about creatures we see almost every day?”

What began as a personal journal of species notes, nectar-plant lists, and observation sketches evolved into a comprehensive initiative — a digital home for butterfly knowledge, ethics, and appreciation.

By late 2019, Frances launched ButterflyAsk.com — a platform committed to explaining every aspect of butterflies, from their evolutionary adaptations to their symbolism in global cultures.

Our Mission

To educate, empower, and connect butterfly enthusiasts, gardeners, students, and researchers through evidence-based knowledge and heartfelt storytelling.

We believe that science and empathy can coexist — that data reveals structure, but compassion gives meaning.
Our mission is not only to describe butterflies but to protect and celebrate them, turning curiosity into conservation.

Our Vision

We envision a world where:

• Every child can recognize at least five native butterflies before learning to text.

• Gardeners cultivate pollinator habitats as naturally as they plant flowers.

• Policy-makers consult ecological data before approving pesticides.

• Beauty is measured not by rarity but by survival.

ButterflyAsk.com seeks to bridge the gap between scientific precision and everyday passion — to make butterfly education accessible, accurate, and actionable.

Who We Are

At our core, we are a small, international team of naturalists, teachers, writers, and photographers united by one shared conviction:
information changes outcomes.

Frances Obrien leads the editorial vision. A graduate in Environmental Biology (MSc, University of Cambridge), she has spent over a decade researching pollinator behaviour across Europe and Southeast Asia. Her fieldwork includes collaboration with NGOs such as the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS) and Wildlife Trusts UK.

Our contributors include:

• Dr. Hannah Rae, entomologist at the University of Bristol, who reviews ecological and conservation topics.

• Mark Thompson, lepidopterist and macro-photographer documenting species identification.

• Aiko Tanaka, horticulturist specializing in butterfly-friendly gardening and native flora.

• Maria Estevez, data analyst compiling citizen-science survey results for public access.

Together, we merge scientific expertise with accessible communication, ensuring every article serves both the scholar and the beginner.

Our Editorial Philosophy: Clarity, Credibility, and Care

Information about wildlife online can be chaotic — fragmented blogs, misquoted facts, and outdated data.
ButterflyAsk.com follows an editorial discipline grounded in three core principles:

1. Clarity

We translate academic research into plain, precise English.
Every article must answer a real question that readers actually ask — from “How do butterflies migrate thousands of miles?” to “Which plants attract Monarchs in urban gardens?”

2. Credibility

Our facts come only from primary sources: peer-reviewed journals, verified field data, and official conservation bodies such as IUCN, National Butterfly Center, and Royal Entomological Society.

3. Care

We respect both the insects we study and the readers who learn from us.
Every sentence is written with the awareness that our advice may influence real habitats, gardens, and classrooms.

Editorial & Fact-Checking Policy

1. Primary Sources Only — We rely on authoritative publications such as Journal of Insect Conservation, Ecological Entomology, and Nature Ecology & Evolution.

2. Expert Review — Articles on habitat design, breeding ethics, or pesticide impact undergo specialist review before publication.

3. Transparency — Sponsorships or affiliate links, when present, are clearly disclosed.

4. Continuous Updates — Each article includes a “Last Reviewed” date and is revisited when new research emerges.

5. Reader Participation — Credible corrections and insights from readers are publicly acknowledged.

What We Offer

1. Comprehensive Species Profiles
   – Identification guides for Monarchs, Swallowtails, Morphos, and rare regional butterflies.
   – Behaviour, diet, and life-cycle notes supported by verified field observations.

2. Ecology & Behaviour Insights
   – Articles decoding migration patterns, pollination roles, and camouflage strategies.

3. Gardening & Habitat Design
   – Step-by-step plans for nectar gardens, feeders, and sustainable butterfly houses.

4. Conservation Guides
   – Practical instructions for supporting endangered species and community restoration projects.

5. Cultural Symbolism & Art
   – Exploring butterflies in mythology, literature, and art across civilizations.

6. Buyers Guides & Ethical Recommendations
   – Objective reviews of binoculars, rearing kits, and gardening tools tested by real users.

7. Fun Facts & Curiosities
   – Engaging stories revealing the hidden beauty and evolutionary genius of Lepidoptera.

Why Butterflies Deserve Their Own Platform

Butterflies are not decorative extras in nature — they are bio-indicators that signal ecosystem health.
Their decline reflects broader environmental stress.

Yet most wildlife portals lump them into generalized “insect” categories. ButterflyAsk.com fills that gap: a dedicated platform where every wing pattern, migration route, and adaptation is treated with the respect it deserves.

Our Community & Outreach

Knowledge alone does not protect butterflies; community does.
ButterflyAsk.com extends far beyond articles—it is a living network of gardeners, students, researchers, and citizen scientists united by one belief: education breeds empathy, and empathy fuels conservation.

Building a Global Network

From our modest beginnings in Oxford, we have grown into a worldwide readership spanning 60 countries.
Our subscribers include hobby photographers in Canada, schoolteachers in India, and field ecologists in Kenya.
Each brings local knowledge that strengthens our collective understanding of butterfly life cycles across climates and continents.

Citizen Science Partnerships

We collaborate with:

• The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) for population tracking.

• The North American Monarch Project for migration data validation.

• Asia Pollinator Initiative, compiling observations on tropical species decline.

Volunteers submit sightings through open forms, and verified data are shared publicly under Creative Commons licenses—proof that ordinary observers can contribute to extraordinary science.

Education and Youth Programs

ButterflyAsk runs digital workshops for schools titled “Wings of Change.”
These sessions teach children how to identify native species, record observations, and design mini pollinator gardens.
Our printable worksheets and teacher toolkits have been downloaded over 45,000 times since 2021.

Frances often reminds her interns:

“If we want a future filled with butterflies, we must first teach a generation to notice them.”

Our Research & Data Projects

Between 2021 and 2024, ButterflyAsk collected more than 12,000 user-submitted entries on:

• Preferred host plants by region

• Butterfly population trends versus urban density

• Seasonal emergence shifts linked to temperature rise

• Impact of chemical pesticides on larval survival

Our analytics team anonymizes and publishes yearly summaries. These findings have been referenced by small ecological newsletters and incorporated into university coursework at several environmental-science departments.

Data integrity is non-negotiable: no information is sold or restricted; it exists for public benefit.

Transparency in Funding & Partnerships

Operating an independent science-education platform requires resources—but never at the cost of credibility.

• Advertising Ethics: We reject pop-up ads, clickbait headlines, and any sponsorship tied to harmful pesticides or exploitative wildlife trades.

• Affiliate Links: Used sparingly, always disclosed, and limited to eco-verified suppliers.

• Donations: Supporters contribute through transparent micro-funding (Buy Me a Coffee, Patreon), covering hosting, image licensing, and outreach printing.

Our readers’ trust is our single greatest asset, and we guard it with the same vigilance we apply to fact-checking.

Our Values

These values steer every editorial, sponsorship, and outreach decision we make.

Ethical Breeding and Conservation Stance

ButterflyAsk strongly condemns the commercial capture or mass breeding of butterflies for short-term display events.
We advocate instead for habitat restoration, ethical rearing for research, and community-based conservation.

Our guides promote collaboration with sanctuaries and field stations that:

• Conduct controlled releases under scientific supervision.

• Avoid exotic species introduction into non-native environments.

• Support pollinator-corridor creation across fragmented habitats.

Frances Obrien’s guiding principle:

“True admiration demands responsibility. To love a butterfly is to protect its world.”

Future Goals (2025 and Beyond)

Our roadmap for the next five years focuses on education, data, and inclusion:

1. Launch “Ask an Entomologist” Hub — a verified Q&A portal where readers submit questions answered by credentialed experts.

2. Publish an eBook Series — “Butterflies of the World: Science Meets Wonder,” blending research summaries with field photography.

3. Establish a Habitat Grant Program — funding small urban pollinator gardens worldwide.

4. Expand Multilingual Access — full translations in Spanish, German, Hindi, and Japanese.

5. Organize Global “Wings Week” Summit — uniting scientists, gardeners, and educators for collaborative conservation.

Each initiative reinforces our promise: accurate information, accessible to all, anchored in empathy.

Our Promise to Readers

• Accuracy — Every statement verified, every citation traceable.

• Honesty — Financial affiliations disclosed in plain view.

• Respect — We guide improvement, never shame ignorance.

• Privacy — User data never monetized or shared.

• Kindness — Tone matters; empathy leads.

Why You Can Trust Us

Trust cannot be claimed; it must be earned—patiently, post by post.

We earn it through:

• Experience: Over a decade of field study and ecological communication.

• Expertise: Advanced degrees and verified scientific collaboration.

• Authoritativeness: References in conservation bulletins and academic blogs.

• Transparency: Open-source data and visible editorial history.

A Word from Frances Obrien

“Butterflies taught me patience. You can’t rush a chrysalis; you can only create the right conditions for transformation.
ButterflyAsk exists to create those same conditions for learning—safe, truthful, and inspiring.”

Her philosophy defines the site’s tone: calm, meticulous, and sincere.

How You Can Join Us

• Subscribe to our monthly Pollinator Perspective newsletter.

• Follow @butterflyask on Instagram and Pinterest.

• Share your field notes for our Community Spotlight series.

• Volunteer your digital, writing, or data skills for upcoming conservation campaigns.

Every click, photo, or observation strengthens the global network working to safeguard butterflies.

Closing Reflection

At ButterflyAsk.com, we do not treat butterflies as content; we treat them as living evidence of balance.
Our duty is to translate that delicate balance into words that inform, inspire, and endure.

Whether you are nurturing a garden, studying species diversity, or simply pausing to admire a pair of fluttering wings—know that you are part of something larger: a shared act of preservation.

With gratitude and purpose,
— The ButterflyAsk Team
Led by Frances O’Brien, Founder & Chief Editor
📩 [email protected]
🌐 www.butterflyask.com