News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 49, Number 4

Conservation Matters: Contributions from the Conservation Committee The Xerces Society: 36 Years of Butterfly Conservation Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director and Sarina Jepsen, Senior Conservation Associate The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, 4828 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland OR 97215 [email protected]

In 1971 Robert Michael Pyle, a noted Xerces president Paul Opler, who was information available on these insects. lepidopterist and author, conceived the then working for the US Fish and Fifty seven butterflies and two moths idea for the Xerces Society while on the Wildlife Service. In addition, according are included on the list. For each, the British Rail’s main line between King’s to the International Union for Xerces Society has prepared a species Cross and Huntingdon. He named the Conservation and Nature’s Red Book of profile that distills the current state of Society after the Xerces blue butterfly Swallowtails, 10% of swallowtail knowledge of life history, distribution, (Glaucopsyche xerces), which was butterfly species are considered threats, and conservation and research driven extinct by the expansion of San threatened. Swallowtails are the only needs. Each profile includes discussions Francisco in the early 1940’s. The “X” group of insects that have been assessed of taxonomy and identification, as well of Xerces, he imagined, would make a worldwide. as lists of contacts, publications, and perfect symbol for extinction. Butterflies become endangered because relevant websites. Recovery plans for The mission of the Xerces Society is to of the same destructive forces facing U.S. federally listed Lepidoptera and “protect wildlife through the con- many other animals. According to the related documents are also included in servation of invertebrates and their IUCN, the leading causes of animal each profile. habitat”. Since its inception, the Xerces endangerment are habitat destruction, The Red List is available as a CD-ROM, Society has strived to use the best displacement by introduced species, and and can also be accessed on-line at the available scientific information to alteration of habitat by chemical Xerces Society’s website (http:// further the conservation of butterflies, pollutants such as pesticides. Many at- www.xerces.org/Pollinator_Red_List). moths, and many other insects and risk insects are threatened by more The Society is currently updating the invertebrates. Over the past 36 years, than one of these causes. The book Red List, and we invite experts to review the Society has protected many Precious Heritage; The Status of current profiles. endangered invertebrates, worked with Biodiversity in the United States notes scientists and land mangers to that 33 butterflies are imperiled in the The Xerces Red List shows that the understand and manage habitat for US, 97% of which are threatened by most imperiled species are those that these animals, and promoted the idea habitat loss, 36% by alien species, 24% are highly specialized or restricted to of conservation at the bottom of the by pollution, and 30% by over a few small patches of habitat. Prairie food chain to a public otherwise focused collecting. obligate butterflies are a prime on bald eagles and whales. example; Karner blue (Lycaeides To better understand issues relative to melissa samuelis), Laguna Mountain A concentration of the Xerces Society’s North America’s most at-risk skipper (Pyrgus ruralis lagunae), and work has been on endangered and butterflies, the Xerces Society has many other butterfly species require threatened Lepidoptera. Many species produced a Red List of Pollinator Insects host plants that thrive in intact prairie of Lepidoptera are imperiled or at-risk of North America. (Note: partial and meadow systems. in the United States and across the funding for this effort came from the world. There are 22 butterflies and 2 Butterfly Conservation Initiative). The Some species are very specialized. For moths listed as endangered or Red List is the most complete instance, the plates that cover the threatened under the US Endangered assessment of the status of the shells of tortoises are made of keratin, Species Act. Many of these species were continent’s at-risk pollinators, as well a protein few scavengers can digest. listed under the direction of former as the most comprehensive source of Continued on pp. 114

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1) Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori) was previously documented at more than seventy sites in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. It now occurs at only fourteen sites, most of which contain fewer than fifty individuals. Photo by Dana Ross. 2) (Ceratophaga vicinella), whose caterpillar specializes on a diet of dead gopher tortoise shells may be threatened by the loss of gopher tortoise habitat. Photo by Tom Eisner. 3) In the state of Washington, over 95% of the native grassland that Mardon skippers (Polites mardon) depend upon has been lost. Photo by Norm Barrett.

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Xerces Society: 36 Years of insects. Although the damage to non- Xerces is working to manage and Butterfly Conservation target native insects from these protect two of the largest remaining biological controls is rarely docu- populations of the Taylor’s checkerspot Continued from pp. 112 mented, some evidence is surfacing that butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori). However, in Florida there is a rare their impact may be significant. For Taylor’s checkerspot was previously moth, Ceratophaga vicinella, whose example, the parasitoid fly Compsilura documented at more than seventy sites caterpillar specializes on a diet of dead concinnata, which was released in British Columbia, Washington, and gopher tortoise shells. Loss of the repeatedly in North America from 1906 Oregon. In the past 50 years, it has gopher tortoise’s habitat may threaten to 1986 as a biological control agent experienced a dramatic decline; it now this moth species. against several pests, including the occurs at only fourteen sites, most of Habitat loss is the primary cause of introduced gypsy moth, has been which contain fewer than fifty Lepidoptera endangerment. Perhaps the implicated in the declines of four species individuals. best known case of habitat loss leading of giant silk moths (Lepidoptera: To protect this butterfly, Xerces staff are to extinction is that of San Francisco, Saturniidae) in New England. Another working with the Benton County California, a city that now almost study in Hawaii found that 83% of Natural Areas and Parks Department, entirely covers what was once one of the parasitoids reared from native moths a private landowner, and the Bonneville major coastal dune ecosystems in were formerly introduced biological Power Authority to control invasive western North America. Three dune control agents. weeds while still retaining the native butterflies, which were endemic to this Pesticides and other pollutants are prairie that support this butterfly. The region, are now extinct: Cercyonis implicated in the decline of some Society is working with a coalition of sthenele sthenele; the Xerces blue Lepidoptera. Lights along streets and state, federal, and private scientists and (Glaucopsyche xerces); and Plebeius highways are implicated in losses of managers to help determine the best icarioides pheres. This dramatic decline nocturnal insects, particularly large methods for managing sites across the in butterflies was documented in the moths. Finally, scientists are beginning range. article “San Francisco’s Vanishing to understand the negative impact of Another important factor in the Butterflies” in the 1956 issue of climate destabilization (climate recovery of these at-risk Lepidoptera is Lepidopterist’s News. Three other change). Climate destabilization will research. In order to manage habitat for butterflies, Callippe Silverspot not lead to uniform change across the these species, one must understand (Speyeria callippe callippe), San Bruno landscape. Some places will be hotter their biology, habitat requirements, and Elfin (Callophrys mossi bayensis), and and dryer while some may be wetter, ecology. The Society is working with Mission Blue (Icaricia icarioides and in other places the weather may graduate student Loni Beyer and missionensis), are now limited to the simply be more variable. It may effect Washington State University professor San Bruno Mountains just south of San plant communities and cause seasonal Cheryl Shultz to understand the life Francisco, the last remnant of the San shifts that put species out of sync with history of the Mardon skipper (Polites Francisco hills ecosystem. their food sources. Data shows that mardon), a small, tawny-orange Conversion of natural habitats for some butterflies are shifting their range butterfly dependent upon native agriculture, particularly for planted in response to the changing climate. It grasslands and mountain meadows. In food and fiber crops (e.g. cotton), is one is also leading to the endangerment of the state of Washington, over 95% of the of the most extensive land uses and, Lepidoptera with specific, narrow native grassland that Mardon skippers according to Robert Pyle, has resulted habitat requirements. A changing depend upon has been lost to in the greatest loss of native insect climate is especially detrimental to agricultural and residential sprawl, and populations. species that cannot disperse, species to the encroachment of conifers like the Uncompahgre fritillary (Boloria resulting from fire suppression. The The introduction of various exotic improba acrocnema), which is organisms, whether intentional or not, grassland habitat that remains is often restricted to high mountain slopes in degraded by livestock grazing, has affected native Lepidoptera both southern Colorado. directly and indirectly. For example, recreational use, and introduction of introduced plants out-compete native While the risks to Lepidoptera are exotic species. plants that serve as hosts for severe, there are steps that one can take In 2006, after several years of surveying lepidoptera. to protect these at-risk species. for new sites, the Xerces Society Ultimately, to protect any species one embarked on a project to better Intentional introductions of non-native must protect its habitat. The Xerces insects harm many native insect understand this butterfly and its Society works with land managers, habitat needs. With funding from the species. Over the past 50 years, non- municipalities, federal agencies, and native insects have been released to Bureau of Land Management and the local land owners to protect habitat for Forest Service, Xerces staff studied control a variety of non-native pest the most at-risk species. In Oregon,

114 Winter 2007 Winter 2007 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society skipper populations at sites in Oregon Xerces’ thousands of members, as well States and Canada. The culmination of and Washington to identify the host as others in the public. this project will be a book entitled plants utilized by the Mardon skippers. One example of our outreach work is Swallowtail Seasons: The First Xerces staff also conducted population the California Monarch Conservation Butterfly Big Year, published by the censuses and recorded adult nectar Campaign, which is managed by Houghton Mifflin Company. usage. Results indicate that Mardon longtime Xerces volunteer Mia Monroe. While Bob Pyle will be seeking as many skippers use a wider variety of host This program provides training to species of the nearly 800 recorded in plants than previously thought. We citizen scientist monitors to complete North America north of Mexico, the then returned to one site to find and Thanksgiving weekend counts of numbers themselves will be secondary study Mardon skipper caterpillars, Monarchs at over wintering sites. This to his in-depth encounters with the something that had never been done information is being used to track long butterfly fauna. His efforts will play a before. Xerces staff were the first to term trends in population numbers at role in furthering butterfly conserva- actually observe these caterpillars in these sites. tion work, with the Xerces Society the wild. We are now working with collecting pledge donations based on federal agencies to develop a plan to Partnerships are vital to our conservation efforts. The Society works each species that he positively assess the impact of cattle grazing on identifies. All proceeds from this the Mardon skipper. with scientists and land managers across the US on insect conservation Butterfly-A-Thon will directly benefit The Xerces Society works to empower issues. One very successful partnership Xerces Society projects in rare butterfly young people to help us understand has been with the Oregon Zoo in their conservation. To update Butterfly-A- important issues related to Lepidoptera efforts to captive rear at-risk butterflies. Thon participants on Bob’s progress, conservation. In 1999 the Society We are working with the Natural he will be sending regular updates from initiated the Joan Mosenthal DeWind Resource Conservation Service and the road, which will be posted as a blog Award to ensure that the next farmers across the US to promote on the Xerces Society website. generation of Lepidoptera conserva- pollinator conservation, and we believe The Xerces Society has worked for 36 tionists can continue to promote sound that butterflies can be an important years for the conservation of butterflies, science-based conservation. A lifelong part of this outreach. The Xerces moths, and other invertebrates. In the lover of butterflies, Joan Mosenthal Society is engaging with other societies coming years, the Xerces Society will DeWind was a pioneering member of the to reach out to new audiences. Later continue our efforts to educate the Xerces Society. In Joan’s memory, her this year we will bring an insect public, policy makers, scientists, and husband Bill DeWind established a conservation symposium to the annual land managers about important issues student research endowment fund. meeting of the Entomological Society of related to Lepidoptera conservation. We Each year, the Xerces Society awards America in San Diego, with the goal of hope to work with the Lepidopterists’ small grants to two or three students engaging more entomologists in insect Society Conservation Committee and to support research that will advance conservation. others in the Lepidoptera community to the conservation of butterflies or moths. The Xerces Society’s latest campaign to further the goal of conserving University students throughout the Lepidoptera species across the world apply for this award. capture the public’s imagination will take place throughout 2008. Robert continent. To conserve Lepidoptera, the general Michael Pyle will be undertaking a For more information on Xerces Society public, scientists, land managers, and historic journey in hopes of finding and programs, publications, and our conservationists need to understand the positively identifying as many species Butterfly-A-Thon, please visit extraordinary value that these of butterflies as possible in the United www.xerces.org. organisms provide. The Society works with people to take action to protect, Get in the Swing of Things with a Society T-Shirt! understand, and enjoy these fascinating creatures. In 1990 we worked with the High Quality, 100% cotton, generous length, pre-shrunk, proudly displaying a Smithsonian to produce the popular 7-inch (18cm) diameter Lepidopterists’ Society logo on the front. Available in book Butterfly Gardening, and have four adult sizes (small, medium, large and extra large) in either Papilio glaucus since produced many easy-to-use yellow (with black logo) or Melanchroia chephise (navy) blue (with white logo) publications on butterfly conservation. for only $10 each, plus postage ($4 for first shirt, $2 for each additional shirt In the early days the Society produced within the U.S. or to Canada). the journal Atala, which was designed Please indicate quantity, color and size desired and send, along with your check to include information on insect drawn on a U.S. Bank, in U.S. funds, to: conservation. In 1987 Wings was Kelly Richers, Treasurer, The Lepidopterists’ Society 9417 Carvalho Court, launched as a full-color magazine. It has Bakersfield, CA 93311-1846 U.S.A. become a very popular tool for educating

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