Consider this a strange request but the federal government wants your dead butterflies.

People in six states – including Alabama – are being asked to submit dead butterflies and moths to help the U.S. Geological Survey establish a Lepidoptera Research Collection. The collection will include butterflies and moths from Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

The specimens will be used to help USGS scientists identify contaminants and other environmental factors that may be contributing to the decline of the insect population.

“There are some questions that can’t effectively be answered without help from a lot of people. It’s what makes citizen science so special and valuable,” Julie Dietze, USGS scientist-in-charge of the effort said in a statement. “Collections like this one are important because they have the potential to provide scientists now, and 20 years from now, access to specimens. Without the specimens, it will be far more difficult to answer questions related to contaminants and environmental health.”

USGS requirements

• Inspects must be already dead. In other words, don’t kill a butterfly or moth to send it in.
• Inspects must be larger than 2 inches.
• Protected species under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species Act aren’t accepted. In these six states, only the Mitchell’s satyr Butterfly is currently protected but it is found in Alabama.

You can go here to see a flier on what types of insects are being requested and the best ways to collect.

The deadline for submissions is Nov. 1 and they can be mailed to:

USGS LRC

1217 Biltmore Drive

Lawrence, KS 66049