Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly

Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii

Overview

Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii) was listed temporarily as endangered on an emergency basis on June 25, 1991. The butterfly received long-term protection on May 20, 1992. Of the more than 30 known historical populations, only seventeen sites remain in Michigan and two in Indiana. Mitchell's satyr is considered extirpated in New Jersey and Ohio.

The greatest threat to the Mitchell's satyr is habitat destruction. Most of the wetland habitat that this butterfly depends on for survival has been drained and filled to make way for urban and agricultural development. Also, invasion of exotic weeds threaten the fens on which this butterfly depends. Contamination of fen wetlands by pesticides, fertilizer, and nutrient runoff from adjacent agriculture, including livestock production, poses a threat to the butterfly's habitat. It is believed that some populations of the Mitchell's satyr were eliminated by butterfly collectors. Because the remaining populations of Mitchell's satyr are so small, the collection of even a few individuals could adversely impact this species.

Description

This butterfly has a 1 ¾ inch (~5 cm) wingspan with an overall rich brown color. A distinctive series of orange-ringed black circular eyespots with silvery centers are located on the lower surfaces of both pairs of wings. Both the older larvae and the pupae are lime green in color.

Life History

The habitat requirements of Mitchell's satyr are poorly understood, but it nearly always occurs in calcareous wetlands known as fens. These habitats are characterized by low-nutrient levels and alkaline water discharge from groundwater seeps. The plant communities are dominated by sedges, with Tussock sedge (Carex stricta) occurring at every historic site. Deciduous shrubs and coniferous trees such as tamarack (Larix laricina) and red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) are also found in plant communities associated with the butterfly, and the butterfly is often reported as occurring at the interface between open stands of sedge meadows and woody vegetation.

Adult butterflies mature during a two to three week period, usually in early to mid-July. One generation is produced each year. By the end of July, larvae are present on various sedges. Pupation takes place in June and lasts approximately two weeks.

Distribution

The Mitchell's satyr butterfly is one of the most geographically restricted eastern butterflies. In the past, the range of the Mitchell's satyr spanned southern Michigan, northern Ohio, northern Indiana and New Jersey.

Conservation Status

Although historically known from 30 locations in these four states, today only seventeen sites remain in Michigan and two in Indiana. Mitchell's satyr is considered extirpated from New Jersey and Ohio. Searches for new locations are ongoing and have been successful in recent years.

Conservation Needs

Prairie fens and their Mitchell's satyr populations are very sensitive to changes in groundwater and surface water flow. Alterations in hydrology resulting from disturbances such as roads, paths, residential development, and agricultural may have drastic results that affect nearby prairie fen communities and Mitchell's satyr. Conservation of prairie fens is essential to protect Mitchell's satyr from extinction. A Federal Recovery Plan for Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly has been completed.

The primary objective of this recovery plan is to protect an adequate number of Mitchell's satyr butterfly sites to ensure long-term viability of the species in the wild. Conditions that must be met to reclassify the Mitchell's satyr butterfly from endangered to threatened status include protection of a minimum of 16 geographically distinct, self-sustaining populations established or discovered range wide. Delisting will be considered when 25 geographically distinct, self sustaining populations are established or discovered range wide for five consecutive years following reclassification. Also, a minimum of 15 of these sites would need the establishment of permanent protection with long-term management programs requiring some intervention.

Working with landowners

According to the recovery plan site protection will be partially accomplished through negotiating cooperative agreements and conservation easements with land owners and managers, and acquiring lands from willing sellers.

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 Mitchell's satyr;
  • corresponding or meeting with the biologists managing current Mitchell's satyr sites;
  • visiting Mitchell's satyr 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 Mitchell's satyr receives adequate resources and protection.

Research

There is currently an effort underway to assess the genetic differences between populations of the Mitchell's satyr. The recovery plan includes searching for additional populations, monitoring population levels and habitat conditions and conducting necessary studies as important to recover the species.

Captive Rearing

One of the goals of the draft recovery plan is to establish and maintain a captive rearing program. The Toledo Zoo in Ohio has taken an interest in the development of a captive rearing plan for the Mitchell's satyr following a successful reintroduction effort for the Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). A Mitchell's Satyr Working Group met in Michigan in spring 2003 to begin formalizing next steps for this species' recovery. This group included federal and state government agencies, representatives from AZA / BFCI member zoos in the species' range, and other interested parties.

Recovery Plan

Mitchell's Satyr Butterfly Recovery Plan, April 2, 1998.

The primary objective of the recovery program is to remove the Mitchell's satyr butterfly from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife by: (1) achieving a well-distributed increase in numbers; and (2) providing for long-term habitat protection.

The butterfly can be reclassified from endangered to threatened: when 16 geographically distinct, viable populations or metapopulations are established or discovered range wide. These will include, at a minimum, 12 populations or metapopulations in southern Michigan, two in Indiana, one in Ohio, and one metapopulation in New Jersey. At least 50 percent of these sites will be protected and managed to maintain Mitchell's satyr habitat by federal or state agencies or by private conservation organizations. The butterfly can be delisted when nine additional, for a total of 25, geographically distinct, viable populations or metapopulations are established or discovered range wide and remain viable for five consecutive years following reclassification. A minimum of 15 sites must be protected and managed to maintain Mitchell's satyr habitat by state or federal agencies or by private conservation organizations before delisting will be considered.

Recovery Priorities

Actions needed for recovery:

  • Monitor existing populations and survey for additional populations of Mitchell's satyr. Include surveys for previously unknown populations of Mitchell's satyr, monitoring extant populations and determining precise distribution of Mitchell's satyr at known population sites.
  • Establish a research program to determine the ecological requirements and life history of Mitchell's satyr. Research needs include conducting cage studies of larval ecology, quantifying habitat requirements and use, studying response to habitat disturbance, determining minimum population viability, and conducting captive rearing / reintroduction studies.
  • Develop and implement protection strategies for Mitchell's satyr. This step includes identifying sites vulnerable to poaching and providing protection during the flight season, protecting essential habitats, providing and updating current site occurrence information at least yearly, developing and implementing habitat management plans on public land and promoting protection of occurrences on privately owned land through an outreach program.
  • Develop an outreach program to keep local communities informed of the butterfly's status. Increase public awareness about Mitchell's satyr butterflies and their habitat through the development of public outreach and education programming.
  • Develop and implement a strategy for reestablishing populations of Mitchell's satyr through its historic range. This will include management of habitat as well as establishment of a rearing facility to provide butterflies for introduction into the wild. This task will require the establishment of Mitchell's satyr breeding facilities and reestablishment of historic populations.

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.

More Info

  • USFWS contact: Carrie Tansy, Recovery Coordinator, East Lansing Field Office, 2651 Coolidge Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48823-6316. Phone (517) 351-6289, carrie_tansy@fws.gov
  • Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Pat Lederle, Endangered Species Coordinator, Mason Building, Fourth Floor, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7944. Phone (517) 373-1263
  • The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Chapter: John Shuey, Director of Science and Conservation, 1505 N. Delaware St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. Phone (317) 951-8818, jshuey@tnc.org
  • The Toledo Zoo: Peter Tolson, Director of Conservation and Research, P.O. Box 140130, Toledo, Ohio 43614-0801, Phone (419) 385-5721. peter.tolson@toledozoo.org
  • Michigan Natural Features Inventory: David Cuthrell, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, Michigan 48909. Phone (517) 335-6627, cuthreld@michigan.gov

References

  • Celik, F. 2003. The objectives and obstacles in reintroducing Mitchell's satyr butterfly, Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii in New Jersey.
  • Lee, Y. 2000. Special animal abstract for Mitchell's satyr butterfly, Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 4 pp.
  • Rabe, M.L., M.A. Kost, H.D. Enander, and E.H. Schools. 2002. Use of a GIS-based habitat model to identify potential release sites for Mitchell's satyr butterfly, Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii in Michigan. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Region 3 Office, Fort Snelling, MN. 34 pp.
  • Shuey, J.A. 1997. Conservation status and natural history of Mitchell's satyr butterfly, Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii French (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Nat. Areas J. 17(2): 153-163.
  • Szymanski, J.A. 1999. Population and spatial ecology of the Mitchell's satyr butterfly, Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii French, in southwestern Michigan. Master's Thesis. Univ. of Minn., Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. 78 pp.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1997. Recovery Plan for Mitchell's Satyr butterfly, Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii French. Ft. Snelling, MN. Viii+71 pp.
  • Michigan Department of Natural History Mitchell's satyr resources
  • USFWS Mitchell's satyr butterfly page
  • USGS Butterflies of North America Mitchells satyr resources
  • University of Michigan Mitchells satyr page

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Classification

Federal Endangered Species (Federal Register 57:21564; May 20, 1992)

State Status

No state designation beyond the federal classification.

Range

IN, MI, OH

Critical Habitat

None designated

Acknowledgement

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