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Nevada Butterflies May Warrant Protection
“We are pleased that the Service will consider these butterflies for listing,” said Mark Salvo, Wildlife Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “These rare, unique subspecies deserve federal protection.”
The two subspecies of Spring Mountains dark blue butterfly (Euphilotes ancilla cryptica and Euphilotes ancillapurpura) are endemic to the Spring Mountains, a “sky island” and hot spot for biological diversity in southern Nevada. The two species look alike, but emerge at different times of the year and use different host plants. E. a. cryptica is more widespread, though less numerous than purpura. Both subspecies occur as small, scattered populations in piñon pine-juniper and mixed ponderosa pine/white fir forest.
The Spring Mountains dark blue butterfly mostly occurs on public land in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Vegetation treatments, fire management,grazing, drought and climate change have exposed, dried out and killed the butterflies’ host plants. Experts are also concerned that populations of both butterfly subspecies may be declining.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, having determined that WildEarth Guardians’ petition presented substantial information indicating that listing the sub species may be warranted, will now determine whether to propose the species for listing under the ESA.