Return to Article Index
January 16, 1997
The quino checkerspot butterfly, which may have been one of the most abundant butterflies in Los Angeles, Orange, western Riverside, and San Diego counties as recently as the turn of the century, now has only seven populations in the United States, some limited to as few as five individuals. The Laguna Mountains skipper, restricted to San Diego County, has five populations, the largest of which numbers about 240 butterflies.
Butterflies' pollinating, feeding, and reproductive activities are critical to the survival of flowering plants and even food crops, and they are considered barometers of environmental quality. Of the approximately 700 species of butterflies found in North America, 225 are present in California. Today's listing brings the total number of butterflies in California under protection of the Endangered Species Act to 10.
In anticipation of the listing of these species, the Orange County Central and Coastal Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) took the quino checkerspot into consideration. Under this plan, one of several locally-driven conservation efforts covering over 6,000 square miles in five Southern California counties, the Service will not authorize removal of the butterfly's habitat supporting populations considered essential to the species' conservation. However, participating landowners would be allowed to modify less essential habitat by following an approved mitigation plan. This butterfly may also be addressed in the Southern Orange County NCCP/HCP expected to be completed in 1997.
In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has discussed with landowners in Riverside County how conservation measures for the quino checkerspot butterfly might be accommodated as part of recreational development in the region. Riverside County is also expected to consider this species in its development of a multi-species habitat conservation plan. The Service encourages private landowners to include the Laguna Mountains skipper and the quino checkerspot butterflies in habitat conservation plans developed as part of permit applications.
The quino checkerspot butterfly is not considered adequately conserved by the proposed Multi-species Conservation Plan in San Diego County, and the Laguna Mountains skipper does not occur in any of the MSCP planning areas.
The Service will coordinate recovery measures for the butterflies with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management -- the two Federal land management agencies that have butterfly habitat and populations within their jurisdictions. Recovery steps could include habitat restoration and enhancement, fencing to protect host plants for the butterflies, and captive propagation and reintroduction into suitable habitat.
Habitat degradation and destruction and overcollection are considered threats to these species. As is the case with many butterfly species, the presence and abundance of host plants and particular types of habitat limit each species' range and distribution.
Most of the known populations of the Laguna Mountains skipper occur on public lands, while the quino checkerspot butterfly occurs partly on public lands and partly on private lands, including a private preserve.
This rule is being published at this time in compliance with a court-mandated deadline for final action by February 1, 1997. A complete description of the final rule listing the quino checkerspot butterfly and the Laguna Mountains skipper as endangered was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 1997.