Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) is an extensive resource dedicated to the collection, storage, and sharing of information and occurrence data about Lepidoptera species. It emphasizes on the active participation of the public in gathering information through user-submitted photographs of butterflies, moths, and caterpillars.
The project provides a platform for getting involved with numerous options such as being a coordinator or partnering with the organization. While maintaining an inclusive approach, it also provides necessary materials for identification with sections dedicated to regions, image gallery, maps, data, and species profiles.
The website also offers features such as a regional checklist, taxonomy, and a species search function, and it provides an impressive image gallery for visual information. Additionally, users can actively track their contributions through the My BAMONA feature, where they can manage their sightings, species checklist, and photographs.
BAMONA relies heavily on donations for funding and conducts regular fundraisers to maintain the project's functionality. Their solicitations for recurring or one-time donations underpin the website's dependency on user support to keep the source of information running, free of charge. The donation-driven initiative points to the website's commitment to providing an accessible platform for all users to explore and learn about North American Lepidoptera.
However, any user should be prepared for a bit of information overload; with the vast amount of data available, navigating through the website may be a bit overwhelming for some, particularly for those who are new to the field of Lepidoptera.
In sum, Butterflies and Moths of North America serve as a comprehensive platform for curious minds to learn and support the study of Lepidoptera in North America. It demonstrates the power of citizen science and offers a plethora of resources for users to better understand these creatures. While the website is a bit dense in terms of information, its commitment to providing free access to valuable knowledge makes it a valuable resource.
