Butterflies at Your Fingertips: ISU Students Create Innovative App for Reiman Gardens

By Andrew Gogerty

In an exciting blend of technology and nature, Iowa State University students have partnered with Reiman Gardens to create the “Butterfly of the Day App,” bringing the vibrant world of butterflies directly to users' mobile devices. The app is now available for download on Androids and iPhones.

A Digital Window into the World of Butterflies

The app offers a unique daily experience, showcasing a different butterfly species each day. Designed to educate and inspire, the application allows users to explore the intricate beauty of butterflies commonly found in Butterfly House exhibits worldwide. With features that enable users to set butterfly images as wallpapers and home screen widgets, the app transforms mobile devices into a daily celebration of these fascinating insects.

Behind the Scenes: Student Innovation

The project was a collaborative effort by five computer science students from Iowa State University: Mia Harang, Michelle Loo, Mattie McGovern, Hudson Nebbe, and Jack Olson. Their journey was marked by both challenges and triumphs, offering insights into the complex world of app development.

Jack Olsan highlighted the technical challenges of maintaining background tasks, ensuring the app could update butterfly images seamlessly even after the phone restarts. "The toughest part was getting the background tasks to not shut themselves off," Olsan explained. Despite the difficulties, he found great satisfaction in the final product. "Being able to have a new butterfly as your wallpaper every day is pretty cool!" he added, expressing hope that the app would reach and delight as many people as possible.

For Hudson Nebbe, the ultimate hope is for the app to grow, both in the number of users and in the number of exhibits participating in the Butterfly of the Day program.

Features That Bring Nature Closer

The app goes beyond just displaying beautiful images. The Android version includes a resizable widget to showcase the Butterfly of the Day on home screens, and users can set these images as lock screen or home screen wallpapers. A convenient feature helps users locate the five nearest butterfly houses affiliated with the International Association of Butterfly Exhibitors and Suppliers, bridging the gap between digital exploration and real-world experiences.

A Partnership of Education and Technology

Created in partnership with the Entomology Staff at Reiman Gardens, home to the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, the app represents a unique intersection of technological innovation and natural education. It provides users with a daily dose of beauty and knowledge about these remarkable creatures.

Availability

The Butterfly of the Day app is now available on both major mobile platforms:

- iPhone Version: (https://apps.apple.com/app/butterfly-of-the-day/id6737445936)

- Android Version: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reiman.ButterflyoftheDay&utm_source=na_Med)