Ok, I know this thread is older but I was reading an article on MSN this morning about weird crimes with a price and was reminded of this thread.
In Pacific Grove, CA molesting butterflies carries a $500 fine. So, the next time she threatens the butterflies, counter that you will call the cops and turn her in for butterfly molestation. 
That's because it has groves where the Monarch butterfly comes and does its thing. In mass quantities. Girls Scouts go and see them in the groves (there may even be a patch for it!). School groups go and see them. It's a tourist dollar thing...
So, yeah, they ARE protected. Hitting a few with your car is just inevitable, but they want to stop idiots with tennis rackets from going after them, or other types of 'butterfly vandalism'.
ETA - removed an apostrophe...
