More Than Meets the Eye

Ron Rutowski’s office is filled with all the trappings of a scientist who studies butterfly behavior in the field. He has nets, framed collections, and lots of books on the natural history of insects. However, attached to the ASU behavioral ecologist’s office is a laboratory complete with microscopes, computers, and other pieces of technology.

It is unlikely that you’ll ever catch him wearing a lab coat. But Rutowski and his students do about as much work these days in the lab as they do in the field.

“Because we mix lab work with a lot of fieldwork, I think we’re at the forefront of understanding the role vision plays in the lives of butterflies,” he explains. “We’re relating these studies of the visual field to behavior in very real world contexts.”

How does one become a behavioral ecologist? Rutowski’s career track started when he was young. What began as a bird watching hobby he shared with his father turned into a life-long interest in the animal behavior.

“For me, an important part of biology has always been the world out there, and the animals. My love of animal diversity keeps me interested in learning more.” Rutowski’s first interest was birds. Then he worked with eminent entomologist Thomas Eisner during graduate school at Cornell University. Eisner helped convince him that studying insects was the way to go. Butterflies have since become his life’s work.

But there is more to the ASU scientist than butterfly nets and microscopes. Rutowski also is an expert fiddler and banjo player. He spent seven years playing on the road with popular country singer/songwriter Glenn Campbell and his band, all the while juggling his science career and family life. Though he no longer tours, Rutowski still plays gigs in the Phoenix area with the band Poor Alfred.—Matthew Shindell