Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis

Overview

Little is known about this butterfly and it is possibly already extinct. It is only known from a few sites near Mendocino on California's north coast. The lotis blue is thought to have been restricted to a rare coastal bog type of habitat, and the cause of its decline is not fully understood. Climatic factors or a change in land management practices since the arrival of Europeans to California may have affected the butterfly. Drought may have also been a factor. Droughts in the late 1970s caused severe declines in populations of seaside bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus formosissimus), the plant thought to have been the larval host of this butterfly.

Description

The lotis blue, Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis, is one of 11 subspecies of L. argyrognomon described in North America. The lotis blue is morphologically distinguished from other subspecies by its size, wing color, and maculation pattern. With a typical wingspan of slightly less than 2.5 cm (within a range of about 1.5 to 3.2 cm), the lotis blue butterfly exhibits one of the largest wingspans of any Nearctic race of L. argyrognomon. The dorsal surface of the wing is a deep violet-blue in the male with a crenulate black border and fringe of white scales along the outer wing margin. In the female, the dorsal wing surface is brown, sometimes bluish-brown, with a wavy band of orange across the subtermen of the fore and hind wings.

Life History

The butterfly was known to associate with coastal bog habitat and the last known location was at a sphagnum bog surrounded by a closed-cone pine forest, dominated primarily by bishop pine (Pinus muricata). Nothing is known for certain about food habits of the lotis blue butterfly, as the larval host plant is not confirmed, but evidence suggests that it was the seaside bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus formosissimus).

Distribution

Historically the lotus blue butterfly has been found in several coastal localities in wet meadows and sphagnum-willow bogs. The last population known was in Mendocino County, CA.

Conservation Status

The last comprehensive survey of the known historical sites was completed in 1990. The lotis blue butterfly was last observed in 1994. Localized surveys conducted in 2000 did not find the lotis blue or its host plants at the last observed location.

Conservation Needs

Working with landowners

Insufficient information available at time of publication.

Education

Education sheets available at zoological facilities (e.g. zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens with butterflies, butterfly houses, natural history museums) or events at which BFCI partners participate are a valuable way to disseminate information about imperiled butterflies.

When schools and other youth organizations study biodiversity and species extinctions they typically use examples of charismatic megafauna (e.g. bald eagles) or exotic creatures from the tropics. However, vulnerable species found within the state or ecoregion in which students live provide an excellent opportunity to develop curricular materials with a direct link to the students' home region. In addition to classroom studies, students may be able to visit sites to see the butterflies, as well as talk to the scientists and land managers involved in the species' conservation.

Educational activities that school students and community members could do include:

• studying butterfly (insect) life stages;
• researching the special habitat needs of the lotis blue;
• corresponding or meeting with the biologists managing current lotis blue sites;
• visiting lotis blue sites during adult flight season;
• visiting captive breeding programs;
• assisting scientists with on-site habitat management;
• propagating and growing host plants for planting at butterfly sites or use in captive breeding programs; and
• writing letters to decision makers to ensure that the lotis blue receives adequate resources and protection.

Research

According to the Berkeley Museum, ongoing studies are using aerial photography and other remote sensing techniques to attempt to identify areas potentially still inhabited by the lotis blue. Meanwhile research is being conducted on the successional patterns of bog habitat and the needs of the host plant in hopes of preventing its decline and perhaps that of other associated organisms in the future.

Captive Rearing

If the lotis blue butterfly is rediscovered, attempts will need to be made to breed the species in captivity and assist individuals in getting to appropriate breeding sites.

Recovery Plan

Draft Lotus Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan. 1985. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 46 pp.

There has never been a final recovery plan for the lotis blue butterfly. A draft recovery plan was produced in 1985. Much of the information in this plan is outdated and there are no criteria for downlisting or delisting the species in the recovery plan. The species may already be extinct. The lotis blue butterfly was last observed in 1994. Localized surveys conducted in 2000 did not find the lotis blue or its host plants at the last observed location.

Recovery Priorities

The interim objectives from the 1985 Recovery Plan for the lotis blue butterfly are:

• To protect all known populations on habitats of at least two hectares.
• To establish three viable self-sustaining populations on sites of at least two hectares.
• To determine the required population numbers and sizes of secure habitats to allow declassifying and delisting.

In order to accomplish the interim objectives and formulate primary objectives, the following recovery activities are listed in the plan:

• Preserve and protect populations at all known, new, and reestablished sites.
• Establish three new, self-sustaining viable populations on suitable secure habitats of at least two hectares.
• Conduct ecological studies to develop management recommendations, determine larval and adult host plants, physiological requirements, demographics, and other biological/ecological studies, and to determine criteria for declassifying and delisting.
• Develop and implement public information and education programs.
• Enforce laws and regulations prohibiting illegal take and enforce land use plans and ordinances.

For more information

• USFWS Recovery Coordinator/Contact: Jim Watkins, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521. Phone (707) 822-7201
• Entomological Consulting Services, Ltd.: Richard Arnold, 104 Mountain View Court, Pleasant Hill, California 94523-2188. Phone (925) 825-3784

References and Resources

• Arnold, R.A. 1978. Survey and status of six endangered butterflies in California, 1977. Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game, Nongame Wildl. Invest. Rpt. 95 pp.
• Arnold, R. A., 1983. Ecological studies of six endangered butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): Island biogeography, patch dynamics, and design of habitat preserves. University of California Publications in Entomology 99: 1-161.
• Arnold, R. A. (1993) The Lotis Blue, Lycaeides idas lotis (Lintner). Conservation Biology of the Lycaenidae (Butterflies) (ed. By T. R. New), pp. 143±144. Occasional Paper ofthe International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Species Survival Commission No. 8, Gland.
• Bean, M. J. 2001. Lessons from Two Endangered Invertebrates. Wings. Essays on Invertebrate Conservation. 24(2):11-13. The Xerces Society, Portland, OR.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Lotus Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 46 pp.
• U.C. Berkeley, Essig Museum of Entomology. California's Endangered Insects Lotis Blue page.
• USFWS Lotis Blue page.
• Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office Lotis Blue resources.

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Classification

Federal Endangered Species (Federal Register: 41:22041; June 1, 1976)

State Status

No state designation beyond the federal classification.

Range

CA

Critical Habitat

Designated in Federal Register 42:7922; February 8, 1977.

Acknowledgement

This profile was prepared by the Xerces Society for the Butterfly Conservation Initiative.