Speyeria callippe callippe

Overview

Historically this butterfly inhabited grasslands ranging over much of the northern San Francisco Bay region but is now relegated to seven sites within the region. The causes of the callippe silverspot's decline are fairly clear. The vast majority of potential butterfly habitat lies under the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. What open areas there are within this butterfly's range are dominated by introduced plant species. Many of these areas are also grazed by cattle, mined, or subject to heavy recreational use. The Alameda County population is particularly small and vulnerable. The San Bruno Mountain population occurs on land that, although private, is largely protected from development. This area is also being managed for the conservation of several additional endangered species, including the San Bruno elfin and the bay checkerspot.

The species is imperiled by the current and potential future destruction and alteration of its habitat due to off-road vehicle use, unsuitable levels of livestock grazing and invasive exotic vegetation. Off-road vehicles and trampling by horses and hikers could also crush the food plants of the larvae or the adult nectar sources. Use of insecticides may also be a problem.

Description

The callippe silverspot (Speyeria callippe callippe) is a medium-sized butterfly in the Nymphalidae (brush foot) family. It has a wingspan of about 2 ¼ inches. The dorsal wings are brown with extensive black spots and lines, and the basal areas are extremely dark. The ventral sides are brown, orange-brown, and tan with black lines and distinctive black and bright silver spots. The basal areas of the wings and body are densely hairy. The caterpillars are dark-colored with many branching sharp spines on their backs.

Life History

The callippe silverspot is found in native grassland and adjacent habitats. Females lay their eggs on the dry remains of the larval food plant, Johnny-jump-up (Viola pedunculata), or on the surrounding debris. About a week after hatching, caterpillars (larvae) wander a short distance and spin a silk pad upon which they spend the summer and winter. In the spring they immediately seek out Johnny-jump-up plants. In May they grow, shedding their skins four times. They then form pupae within a chamber of leaves that they have drawn together with silk. They emerge as adults in about two weeks and live for about three weeks. Depending upon environmental conditions, this period ranges from mid-May to late July. The adults seek the top of a hill to mate.

Distribution

The historic range was limited to the San Francisco Bay region. On the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, the butterflies were found in the inner coast range from northwestern Contra Costa County south to the Castro Valley area in Alameda County. On the west side of the Bay, callippe silverspots ranged from San Francisco south to the vicinity of La Honda in San Mateo County. The species was known to occur in seven populations. Five colonies, including the one located at Twin Peaks in San Francisco, were extirpated.

Conservation Status

Numbers appear to be stable based on monitoring of San Bruno Mountain HCP in 2000. No new information from 2001 supported change in status.

Conservation Needs

Working with landowners

The remaining colonies exist on mostly privately owned land, but also on city-, county-, and state-owned land.

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 callippe silverspot;
• corresponding or meeting with the biologists managing current callippe silverspot sites;
• visiting callippe silverspot 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 callippe silverspot receives adequate resources and protection.

Research

Insufficient information available at time of publication.

Captive Rearing

Insufficient information available at time of publication.

More Info

• Contact: Sacramento Fish And Wildlife Office 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825, Phone (916) 414-6600, Fax (916) 414-6713.
• Entomological Consulting Services, Ltd.: Richard Arnold, 104 Mountain View Court, Pleasant Hill, California 94523-2188, Phone (925) 825-3784.

References

• U.C. Berkeley, Essig Museum of Entomology. California's Endangered Insects Callippe Silverspot page.
• Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, Endangered Species Division Callippe Silverspot Fact Sheet.
• USFWS Callippe silverspot page.

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Classification

Federal Endangered Species (Federal Register 62:64306; December 5, 1997)

State Status

No state designation beyond the federal classification.

Range

CA

Critical Habitat

None designated

Acknowledgement

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