Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, state Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Judy Camuso, wildlife biologist Phillip deMaynadier, Ph.D., and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Education and Outreach Supervisor Laura Craver-Rogers visited Laura Seaver and Cynthia Nye’s fifth-grade students at Loranger Middle School on Friday. The students learned about butterflies found in Maine and debated which would be the best pick for state butterfly. Gramlich and the students will pitch their choice to a legislative panel in the coming weeks. Courtesy photo

AUGUSTA — Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, and state officials from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife joined Loranger Middle School students on Feb. 17 to discuss Gramlich’s bill to name a state butterfly.

Fifth-grade students made their cases on which butterfly deserves the title to Gramlich and IFW Commissioner Judy Camuso, wildlife biologist Phillip deMaynadier, Ph.D., and Education and Outreach Supervisor Laura Craver-Rogers.

Gramlich introduced the bill after she was contacted by students Oscar Stanton and Tate Graham. The two fifth-graders wrote to Gramlich, suggesting the Legislature should name a state butterfly and offering up the Hessel’s hairstreak, a butterfly found in York County and listed as endangered by the state.

“Visiting Loranger Middle School students and talking about my work at the State House is always a highlight for me, and I was thrilled to hear from Oscar and Tate,” said Gramlich. “It was great to see them and their classmates engaging with state experts and being actively involved in the legislative process.”

The students’ letter led Gramlich and fifth-grade teachers Laura Seaver and Cynthia Nye to connect with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to help determine the best candidate for the honor. In the coming days, the students will vote on their choice for state butterfly.

The bill, LD 239, will be scheduled for a public hearing before the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee in the coming weeks. Gramlich and the students will pitch their choice for state butterfly to the committee at that time.

Gramlich is serving her third term in the Maine House and represents Old Orchard Beach. She is the House chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.