Spring 2009 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Conservation Matters: Contributions from the Conservation Committee Efforts to Restore the (Euphydryas phaeton ) in Maryland

Patricia M. Durkin 23 Logan Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005 [email protected]

Until the early 1990s, the Baltimore cause, but colonies in undeveloped Smith Jr., pers. comm.) The Connecticut Checkerspot was common in central areas had winked out as well. Similar Atlas ranks deer impact as the and far western Maryland within its reports from other mid-Atlantic states third highest threat to the state’s wet meadow habitat, historically suggested a region-wide decline. The butterfly species. reported from 15 of the state’s 23 loss of a population at Ward Pound Other possible explanations for the counties. The orange-and-black wing Ridge in Westchester County, NY over Baltimore Checkerspot’s decline in markings of Euphydryas phaeton , the the past decade suggests an even more Maryland include introduced only representative of its on the extensive decline (H. Zirlin, pers. predators and parasitoids, stepped-up East Coast, are reminiscent of the comm.) . spraying for gypsy moth, increased use Maryland State flag, which is based on Circumstances in Maryland point, at of herbicides to control vegetation on the family coat of arms of George least in part, to the region’s rapidly utility rights of way, succession of Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. At the expanding population of white-tailed former pasture fields, and a trend in urging of the Maryland Entomological deer, known for their taste for white remaining rural areas away from dairy Society, in 1973 the butterfly became turtlehead, primary host of the region’s farming in favor of row crops. Global Maryland’s official state insect, joining Baltimore Checkerspot population. warming may also be a factor, possibly 16 other icons of the state, which Extensively browsed turtlehead has nudging the species into colder areas of include the Baltimore oriole, blue crab been observed at most Baltimore the state. and black-eyed Susan. Checkerspot sites in Maryland. By 2000, only five large and distinct That few Marylanders have seen their Browsing does not necessarily destroy colonies were known to remain in state insect is not surprising. In recent the plant, but can sever eggs or larvae Maryland. When results of the decades, much of the state’s Piedmont on ingested leaves. The top leaves, most Maryland Rare Butterfly Survey of 2002- pastureland, where Baltimore preferred by deer, are also where the 2003, sponsored by the state’s Wildlife Checkerspot colonies were once found female Baltimore Checkerspot typically and Heritage Service, confirmed the with some frequency, has given way to deposits her lifetime’s production of species’ decline, E. phaeton was added development. Most of the state’s few eggs, usually in three or four nickel- to Maryland’s endangered list, with the remaining colonies are remotely located sized batches of 100-700 eggs, and where designation S-3 (“watch-listed”). At in rocky bottomlands traversing power early instar larvae locate their this level, the state is not required to line rights of way or in high elevation communal webs. It is not unusual to track the species, nor is the species bogs, and only where there also is an find more than one egg batch on a single eligible for state-funded conservation abundance of the species’ primary plant – sometimes on the same leaf — funds. In 2002, the Washington (DC) regional host, white turtlehead Chelone or a number of egg batches on plants Area Butterfly Club launched the glabra , and where adjacent fields in close proximity. Thus, it is possible Baltimore Checkerspot Restoration provide consistent and plentiful sources for a single browsing deer to destroy Project (BCRP) as its main of nectar throughout the univoltine hundreds of eggs or larvae within a conservation effort. BCRP has no species’ June-July flight. The sedentary matter of seconds. formal funding and its work is Baltimore Checkerspot tends to stay Deer overpopulation is increasingly performed entirely by a few close to its natal colony. implicated as a cause of butterfly species knowledgeable volunteers. By the early 1990s, field reports began decline in the East. The apparent Surveying and Monitoring to suggest that the species was losing extirpation of Mottled Duskywing ground in the state. Development Erynnis martialis from Maryland is From its inception, BCRP has radiating west from the Baltimore- linked to extensive deer browse on the conducted surveys to monitor existing Washington corridor was an obvious species’ host, New Jersey tea. (R.H. Baltimore Checkerspot colonies and

Volume 51, Number 1 3 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society Volume 51, Number 1 search for previously unknown bloom during the annual Baltimore Habitat Enhancement colonies. Because the flying season is Checkerspot flight. Moreover, the Meanwhile, five sites in Maryland are so short, searching for potential sites landowner, an enthusiastic in the process of being enhanced with continues into the summer. Promising conservationist, was willing to help white turtlehead and appropriate sites are put on a list to survey the underwrite the project, and he had nectar plants in preparation for following year. In 2008, the state’s already placed his land in permanent potential introductions. The high cost Wildlife & Heritage Service hired two conservation, meaning that any colony of nursery-grown perennials and the BCRP volunteers for a dedicated that might be established would be eventual need for potentially thousands Baltimore Checkerspot survey, which protected from development. The of white turtlehead plants to enhance will1 conclude in June 2009. The results landowner provided manpower to habitat has necessitated BCRP’s of this1 survey may lead to an increased install 400 additional first-year learning how to propagate the plant in imperiled ranking of the Baltimore turtlehead plants in five plots and quantity. Success was elusive until we Checkerspot in Maryland, potentially installed deer exclosures around each discovered that white turtlehead seeds making the species eligible for state- plot. BCRP prepared2 the plots, supplied take much longer than most perennials funded conservation efforts. the turtlehead “plugs,” and supervised to germinate, and that fumigating the the project. By 2008, five additional colonies had seeds to destroy parasite larvae was been1 added to the list, increasing the In late June 2008, BCRP collected four necessary to achieve a satisfactory number of BCRP-verified Maryland gravid females from existing Maryland germination rate. Fumigating, which is colonies from five to ten. One of those colonies, two from a Piedmont colony done before the seeds are stratified, is colonies was a chance discovery by in Frederick County and two from a achieved by storing the seeds for three volunteer botanists searching for rare colony in a privately owned high- days in an air-tight container plants on recently sold Montgomery altitude bog in Garrett County. The containing a No-Pest Strip. (D. Gibbs, County farm. The surprising find in females were confined on white pers. comm.) A number of volunteers Montgomery County, where the turtlehead, where they deposited only are propagating white turtlehead for Baltimore Checkerspot was thought to three batches of eggs. The resulting future enhancement projects. 4 be extirpated, spurred a more intensive larvae were hand-reared on the BCRP is still working out methods to BCRP search of the county’s 90,000- turtlehead through the third instar, prevent young turtlehead plants acre, rurally zoned Agricultural when Baltimore Checkerspot larvae installed at remote enhancement sites Reserve in 2006. BCRP developed and enter a period of aestivation that from being overrun by existing distributed a brochure on how to extends into late fall. In early August, vegetation and from drying out before identify the Baltimore Checkerspot, and two webs, containing an estimated 300- their roots become established. At conducted an identification workshop 400 aestivating larvae, were attached to Rubin’s Marsh in 2008, we tried for 26 residents of the Agricultural mature turtlehead plants within the plantings in the fall, when adjacent Reserve. A list of promising sites was marsh. The larvae were checked by vegetation is less active and cooler drawn up and their owners contacted BCRP in late September, early October, weather is less likely to desiccate the about permission to survey their land. late October and mid-November. AfterB newly installed plants. Although no additional colonies were more than three months on their own, 4 discovered during the six-week search the larvae had consolidated within a Captive Rearing of the Agricultural Reserve, one of the single web and appeared healthy. By late With the turtlehead propagation surveyed sites would become BCRP’s November, they had abandoned the web problem resolved, BCRP’s next first Baltimore Checkerspot intro- and presumably retreated to the leaf challenge is to develop a source of duction project. litter for the winter. BCRP will resume captive-reared stock for our initial regular monitoring in mid-April, when Introduction introduction project at Rubin’s Marsh Baltimore Checkerspot larvae normally 3 and for possible future introductions. Rubin’s Marsh was chosen for a small, emerge to complete metamorphosis. In anticipation, BCRP has been trial introduction site for a number of During spring and summer 2009, BCRP working with the Maryland Zoo in promising attributes. Its small but will periodically weed the turtlehead Baltimore since 2004 to establish a healthy white turtlehead population plots to prevent the young plants from captive-rearing facility, the Zoo’s indicated conducive conditions for the being overrun by more mature signature project for the Butterfly plant. The wetland supports a vibrant vegetation and will introduce more Conservation Initiative, sponsored by population of MulberryWing Poanes captive-bred larvae. If this trial the American Zoo and Aquarium massasoit , a skipper species that often introduction is successful, BCRP will Association. The Zoo’s horticultural occurs with Baltimore Checkerspot. attempt similar introductions at other department has successfully propagated The surrounding fields are well- sites where conditions seem promising.2 populated with nectar sources that C continued on pp. 31

4 Spring 2009 Spring 2009 News of the Lepidopterists’ Society

Baltimore Checkerspot white turtlehead and on setting up a reported on efforts to restore the continued from pp. 4 low-budget captive-rearing facility, and Baltimore Checkerspot in the state, a field trip to Rubin’s Marsh. each article illustrated with a striking hundreds of white turtlehead plants. Participant evaluations were color photo of the butterfly. The result With the generous advisory assistance encouraging. To date, one participant of these efforts is an enthusiastic of Dr. M. Deane Bowers, Professor and has committed to starting a captive- Maryland constituency for the Curator of Entomology, University of rearing facility; three more are Baltimore Checkerspot. Colorado at Boulder, BCRP helped the considering the undertaking. BCRP will2 Where do we stand? Admittedly, still a Zoo staff set up a breeding tent and work with these volunteers to set up long way from restoring the Baltimore other necessary equipment, provided a their captive rearing facilities. Checkerspot in Maryland. Dependable day-long training session for the Public Education captive-rearing and introduction volunteers who would care for the techniques have yet to be developed, Informing the Maryland public about breeding stock, and brought in a half- wild colonies need long term protection, their state insect and its conservation dozen gravid females to start the and many more volunteers must be status has been an important aspect of project. After three unsuccessful recruited and trained to take on the BCRP’s work. The BCRP brochure on attempts and restarts in following workload. However, because the the life history and conservation status years, the 2008 crop survived the Baltimore Checkerspot is not yet of the Baltimore Checkerspot has been summer. In the fall, webs of aestivating hopelessly imperiled, BCRP believes widely circulated to Maryland-based 6 larvae were placed in the Zoo’s there is still time to reverse its decline nature centers, garden clubs and other manmade bog to over-winter. If the in the state. larvae emerge in the spring, finish their organizations. BCRP’s PowerPoint metamorphosis, and successfully breed, show, “Saving Maryland’s Baltimore References the Zoo will be on course to expand its Checkerspot,” a 30-illustrated lecture Cech, R. & G. Tudor. (2005): of the captive-rearing effort. Long range plans on the life history of the butterfly and East Coast: an observer’s guide. Princeton include a permanent Baltimore its decline in the state, has been University Press, Princeton NJ: p.179. Scott, J.A. (1986): The butterflies of North Checkerspot conservation exhibit, presented to more than a dozen natural 5 America: a natural history and field guide. where the public can observe the history and garden groups. A simplified Stanford University Press, Stanford CA. pp. butterfly and captive breeding practices. version of the show with a teacher’s 292-293. script has been incorporated into Wagner, D. L. 2007. Butterfly conservation. pp. With the hope of creating one or two Montgomery County’s second-grade 289-309. In J.E. O’Donnell, L. F. Gall, and additional captive-rearing projects, D. L. Wagner (eds.), Connecticut Butterfly science unit on butterflies. With BCRP presented a captive-breeding Atlas. Connecticut Department of BCRP’s assistance, the Maryland Zoo workshop to 21 participants in Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT. has developed its own comprehensive Wagner, D. L. 2007. Dead bugs do tell tales. November 2008. The day-long event youth outreach program on the species. News Lepid. Soc. 49: 50-51, 67. included BCRP’s PowerPoint show on The Baltimore Sun , Maryland’s the life history of the Baltimore newspaper9 of record, has steadily 10 Checkerspot, sessions on propagating 2009 Meeting of the Pacific Slope Section11 of theLepidopterists’ Society Taft, California: Carrizo Plain National Monument April 17-19, 2009

The 2009 meeting of the Pacific Slope Section of the Lepidopterists’ Society will take place on April 17-19 at Taft, California, the gateway to the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The meeting will be held at the “Fort”, (a charming refurbished old fort), 915 N. 10th Street, Taft, CA. The Carrizo Plain National Monument biologist have granted all participants a blanket-collecting permit as a guided field collecting trip during the three day meeting. Travel: Taft, California is approximately 35 miles southwest of Bakersfield or 1005 miles from Los Angeles. Bakersfield has an international Airport for those whose wish to fly. Car rentals are available. Housing and Restuarants : Housing in Taft has three adequate motels. (Holland Inn 661-763-1536; Topper’s Motel 661-765-4145; Caprice Motel 661-765-2161). An additional Motel 8 is located in Maricopa six miles to the southeast. There are many good restaurants and fast food eating establishments in Taft but only a single fast food site in Maricopa. Contact Peter Jump for registration forms and further information: call 805-933-9912 any time or e-mail [email protected]

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