The Beautiful El Segundo Blue Butterfly- Taylor Blaire Mosher

BREAKING NEWS: El Segundo Butterfly         Recovering from Devastation                           

Reporter: Taylor Blaire Mosher                         

                  
                    Description & Ecology:

        The El Segundo blue butterfly is one of five subspecies of square-spotted blue butterflies which inhabit California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Adult butterflies in the blue butterfly subfamily have a wingspan of 0.75 to 1.25 inches. The wings of the male butterflies are a brilliant blue pigment with an orange trim on the rear of the upper hindwings. The wings of female El Segundo butterflies are a dull brown pigment with an orange border on the upper surface of the hindwings.  The butterflies are dependent upon the coast buckwheat plant as their main source of nourishment and thrive mainly in habitats with a high sand content. 

               Listing Date & Type:

               Listed: June 1, 1976 - Type: Endangere
Recovery Plan Established: 1998 
                 
                   Geographic & Population Changes:

Time Line

         Historically, the El Segundo blue butterfly is believed to have inhabited the prehistoric sand dunes of El Segundo, California. There are four populations known today scattered around this area in localized habitats. The distribution of the butterfly is dependent upon habitats containing a high sand content and the success of the coast buckwheat plant upon which it feeds. Museum records have revealed the butterfly was populous and thriving in El Segundo and several surrounding areas prior to severe habitat degradation and the introduction of invasive species. Populations of the butterfly followed a rapid decline analyzed from studies conducted in the 1930s, but have also been experiencing a steady increase following the implementation of the recovery plan in 1976 (see graph). 

Causes of Listing & Main Threats:

      All known populations of the El Segundo butterfly have been threatened by various sources, first being development and destruction of available habitat due to human expansion. Small population sizes and low genetic diversity of native plants and mammals have left the habitats extremely susceptible to disruption by non-natives like the Norwegian rat or the invasive ice plant. Of 31 species of butterfly species breeding on the site recorded in 1975, 7 have been extirpated. The largest block of remaining natural habitat for the El Segundo blue, the Airport Dunes, has been significantly reduced in quality between the studies performed in 1938 and today. Ultimately, the populations have dwindled in size due to human impacts of habitat destruction and degradation, introducing new species to the environment and narrowing resources.

         Recovery Plan: 

        The focus of recovery efforts is in the Airport Dunes, seeing that it is the largest segments of remaining habitat today and is the closest existing habitat to the El Segundo Dune ecosystem. Areas where the butterflies have been known to inhabit have been grouped into four recovery units on the basis of geographic proximity, similarity of habitat, and potential genetic exchange. Each unit contains one or more present populations of the El Segundo blue butterfly and/or habitat that requires restoration and protection for the management of the present populations. These protected habitat zones only include areas with sandy soils, preferred habitat for the butterfly. The four areas were selected for recovery due to the restorable nature of the populations or habitat present and through analysis of historical records and soil types that have revealed that the butterfly was once populous in these areas, reassuring the potential for success in recovery. 
According the official recovery plan, reducing the threat of extinction of the species will require:

               1. Working with Appropriate Landowners and Local Governments to Reserve and Enhance 
                   the Presently Occupied Habitat
               2. Implementing a Program to Restore Lands with the Highest Potential
               3. Initiating a Captive Breeding and Release Program

For More Information, Visit:

essig.berkeley.edu/endins/euphilot.htm

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/esa_works/profile_page/ElSegundoBlueButterfly.html 
                                                  Other Sources: 
Recovery Plan: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html

Triple El Segundo Pictures: www.cnps.org
El Segundo Herald Photo: http://www.heraldpublications.com/herald/el-segundo-herald
El Segundo Blue Butterflies Photo: www.atlasobscura.com
El Segundo Blue Butterfly Population Graph: www.esasuccess.org
Ice Plant Photo: www.flickr.com
Norwegian Rat Photo: www.fcps.edu
Habitat Restoration Area Photo: www.kcet.org
Camera and Butterfly Photo:  www.obsessionwithbutterflies.com