AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills held a bill signing ceremony Wednesday for LD 239, a measure by State Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, to name the Pink-edged Sulphur the state butterfly. Gramlich introduced the bill after hearing from Loranger Middle School students Oscar Stanton and Tate Graham with the idea. Oscar and Tate joined Gramlich and Mills at the ceremony, along with the students’ families, teachers Laura Seaver and Cynthia Nye, and officials from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly is yellow with pink markings along the edge of its wings.

Phillip deMaynadier, a wildlife biologist, spoke in favor of the bill on behalf of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at an April 4 committee hearing, according to written testimony.

“This attractive, native insect is widespread in Maine, with a range in the United States that is limited mostly to northern New England and the Great Lakes, giving it some geographic exclusivity to our region. The butterfly also has a biological and cultural connection to Maine since its caterpillar is nourished by  native blueberry heaths, including lowbush blueberry (Vacccinium angustifolium), which also produces Maine's official state fruit,” said deMaynadier in written testimony.