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The Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly (Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana) is a butterfly of the gossamer winged variety that is only found around the Sand Mountain Recreation Area near Fallon, Nevada. This species is one of several belonging to the "Blue" subfamily of Lycaenidae.[1]
[edit] Biological characteristics
These butterflies are only known to subsist upon Kearney Buckwheat; eating the fallen leaves of the plant as larvae, and drinking the nectar of the flowers as adults - however, the adults occasionally feed on other plant species. Like many gossamer winged butterflies, Sand Mountain Blues have a close relationship with ants; in this case, desert carpenter ants feed off a sugary secretion of the larvae - if the larvae also benefit or not is yet to be determined. Once the larvae metamorphose into the pupal stage, rather than remain fixed to buckwheat plant, the chrysalis drops into the leaf litter at the base. Upon reaching adulthood, E. pallescens arenamontana typically measure anywhere between 10.0 mm and 11.9 mm. The species is not known to migrate, and in fact stays within 200 ft 0 in (60.96 m) of its host plant. The lifespan of an adult Sand Mountain Blue is approximately one week.[1][2]
[edit] Status
The Sand Mountain Blue species, E. pallescens has been officially classified as being vulnerable while the subspecies p. arenamontana has been labeled as critically imperiled at great risk of extinction. In 2004 a petition was filed to investigate the status of the Sand Mountain Blue and if it should be placed on the endangered or threatened species lists. Currently, the Sand Mountain Blues are referred to as "rare" because of their small geographical distribution around the Sand Mountain dune.[2] In March of 2007, several off-road vehicle trails were closed off in order to protect the species and its host plant from intrusion.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly. Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
- ^ a b Center for Biological Diversity; Xerces Society, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Nevada Outdoor Recreation Association. Petition to list the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly as a Threatened or Endangered Species Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
- ^ Move to protect butterfly steps on off-roaders. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
[edit] External links
