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LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY
RECOVERY PLAN
U.S. F ish and W i l d l i f e Service
Endangered Species Program
Port1 and, Oregon
Approved :
Regional C i r e c t o r , U.S. F ish and Wild1 i f e Service
I > / A L IPS/ I
Date
t
THIS I S THE COPPLETED LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN. I T HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. I T DOES NOT NECESSARILY
REPRESENT OFFICIAL POSITIONS OR APPROVALS OF COOPERATING AGENCIES, AND I T
DOES NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ALL INDIVIOUALS WHO PLAYED
THE KEY ROLE I N PREPARING THIS PLAN. I T HAS BEEN PREPARED UNDER CONTRACT
BY DR. RICHARD A. ARNOLD, DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY, LINIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, I N COOPERATION WITH THE 11.S. FISH AMC W :LLl?LIFE
SERVICE, SACRAVENTO ENPANGEREO SPECIES OFFICE, TO DELINEATE REASORABLE
ACTIONS THAT ARE BELIEVED REQUIRED TO PLACE THIS BUTTERFLY I N THE BEST
POSSIBLE POSITION. THIS PLAN I S SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION AS DICTATED
BY NEW FINDINGS AND CHANGES I N SPECIES STATUS AND COMPLETION OF TASKS
DESCRIBED IN THE PLAN. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE ATTAINED AND FUNDS
EXPENDED CONTINGENT UPON APPROPRIATIONS , PRIORITIES AND OTHER BUDGET1 NG
CONSTRAINTS.
LITERATURE CITATION SHOULD READ AS FOLL@WS:
U.S. F i sh and W i l d l i f e Serv ice. 1985. Pecovery Plan f o r t h e
L o t i s Blue B u t t e r f l y . U.S. F i s h and Wild1 i f e Serv ice,
Por t land, Oregon. 46 pp.
A d d i t i o n a l copies may he obta ined from:
F i sh and W i l d l i f e Reference Se rv i ce
In fo rmat ics General Co rpo ra t i on
6011 Execu t i ve Boul evard
R o c k v i l l e , Maryland 20852
Tel ephone: 1-800-582-3421
I n Flaryl and: (301) 770-3000
Execut ive Summary
1. Po in t o r c o n d i t i o n when species can be considered recovered.
Present ly , t h e r e i s t o o l i t t l e i n f o r m a t i o n t o determine a t what
p o i n t t he L o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y w i l l be considered recovered. 'The
i n t e r i m recovery goal w i l l be obtained when the s i n g l e known
colony i s protected and th ree new, v iab le , se l f -sus ta i n ing
populat ions, each on a t l e a s t 2 hectares o f s u i t a b l e hab i ta t , a r e
es tab l ished and protected.
2. What must be done t o reach recovery?
Preserve and p r o t e c t t he known L o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y populat ion,
devel op and implement management s t ra teg ies , es tab1 i sh th ree new
sel f - s u s t a i n i n g , v i a b l e populat ions each on a t l e a s t 2 hectares
of s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t , develop p u b l i c awareness o f L o t i s b lue
b u t t e r f l y , and enforce laws t o p r o t e c t L o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y and
habi t a t .
What s p e c i f i c a l l y must be done t o meet t he needs o f #2?
A. Preserve approximately 2 hectares o f known h a b i t a t s i t e from
land use changes and minimize impacts from herb ic ides and
i nsec t i c i des .
0 . Preserve hydro1 ogic and b i 01 og ic (hos tp lan ts ) resources f o r
t he species.
C. Sel e c t , secure and rehabi 1 i t a t e addi t i o n a l habi t a t s i t e s by
conduct ing surveys f o r add i t i ona l h a b i t a t and host p lan ts ,
p r o t e c t i n g these s i t e s , and implementing r e h a b i l i t a t i o n
e f f o r t s .
4. What management/maintenance needs have been i d e n t i f i e d t o keep
t h e spec ies recovered?
Proper management and p r o t e c t i o n s houl d be con t inued ,
t r a n s l o c a t i o n s i t e s mon i to red and y e a r l y popu la t i on mon i t o r i ng
should take place. Pub1 i c educa t i on and law enforcement e f f o r t s
should be con t inued .
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Pa r t I INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B r i e f Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taxonomy
Habi t a t Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . H a b i t a t Desc r i p t i on . . . . . . . . . . . . Past and Present D i s t r i b u t i o n . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L i f e H i s t o r y
Reasons f o r k c 1 i n e and Threats t o Su rv i va l
P a r t 1 1 RECOVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Objec t i ves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step-down Out1 i n e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N a r r a t i v e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L i t e r a t u r e C i t ed . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Par t I I 1 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . .
Par t I V AGENCIES ASKED FOR REVIEW COMMENTS . . . . .
L o t i s Blue B u t t e r f l y Recovery Plan
Pa r t I
I n t r o d u c t i o n
B r i e f Overvi ew
The 1 o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y [Lycaeides argyrognomon l o t i s ( L i n t n e r ) ]
(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), may be t h e r a r e s t r e s i d e n t b u t t e r f l y i n
t h e c o n t i n e n t a l Un i ted S ta tes . It i s now known from o n l y one
l o c a l i t y , a sphagnum bog i n Mendocino County, Cal i f o r n i a . Cur ing
1977-1981, o n l y 16 a d u l t specimens were seen i n 42 days o f f i e l d
search ing a t t h e 2 hec ta re s i t e ( A r n o l d 1978, 1980, 1981a, and unpubl.
da ta ) . Th is s i t e represen ts t h e on1 y known occupied h a b i t a t . The
U.S. F i s h and W i l d l i f e Serv ice (USFWS) l i s t e d t h e l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y
as an endangered species i n 1976 ( 4 1 Federal R e g i s t e r 22041). I t s
s u r v i v a l i s th rea tened l a r g e l y by b i 01 og i ca l and c l i rna t i c f a c t o r s
r a t h e r t h a n p r i m a r i l y by a c t i o n s o f man. However l a n d use changes
have t h e p o t e n t i a l t o d e s t r o y known h a b i t a t and p o t e n t i a l s i t e s .
One purpose o f t h e Endangered Species Act o f 1973, as amended, i s " t o
p rov ide means whereby t h e ecosystems upon which endangered species and
threatened species depend may be conserved." T h i s recovery p l a n
I
presen ts . i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y ' s c u r r e n t and fo rmer
d i s t r i b u t i o n , and specu la tes (because o f 1 i m i t e d i n f o r m a t i o n ) on i t s
l i f e h i s t o r y and requi rements f o r s u r v i v a l . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f i t s
known h a b i t a t a r e descr ibed. A d d i t i o n a l research a c t i v i t i e s a r e
proposed t o p rov ide i n s i g h t f o r management and recovery o f t h i s
endangered spec ies and i t s h a b i t a t .
Ta xonomy
Lycaeides argyrognomon l o t i s ( L i n t n e r ) i s one of 12 subspecies
descr ibed from Nor th America (dos Passos 1964, Downey 1975). The
type 1 ocal i ty i s Mendoci no County, Cal i f o r n i a ( L i n t n e r 1876).
The l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y i s m o r p h o l o g i c a l l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d from o t h e r
races of t h e w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d species, Lycaeides argyroqnomon, by
i t s s i ze , wing c o l o r and macu la t ion pa t t e rn . The l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y
e x h i b i t s one o f t h e l a r g e s t wingspans o f any N e a r c t i c (New World
A r c t i c ) r ace o f - L. argyrognomon. Wingspan averages s l i g h t l y l e s s than
2.5 cm, w i t h a range o f about 1.5 t o 3.2 cm. The upper wing surfaces
a r e a deep v i o l e t - b l u e i n t h e male w i t h a c r e n u l a t e b l ack border and
f r i n g e o f w h i t e sca les a long t he o u t e r wing margin ( tennen) . I n t h e
female, t h e upper wing sur face i s brown, sometinies b l uish-brown, w i t h
a wavy band o f orange across t h e subtermen of t h e fo re - and hindwings.
An inconspicuous b l a c k c r e n u l a t e band and f r i n g e of w h i t e ( f r e q u e n t l y
brown-white) sca les 1 i e a l ong t he termen. Ven t ra l f a c i e s i n bo th
sexes a r e cha rac te r i zed by a g r a y i s h ground c o l o r w i t h sca t t e red b l ack
spo t s i n t h e d i s t a l , sub te rmina l and t e rm ina l areas. L i g h t b lue-green
scales may be present basal ly. A wavy band o f orange spots borders
the termen o f t h e hindwings i n between two rows o f sinuous black
l i n e s . I l l u s t r a t i o n s may be found i n Nabokov (1949), T i lden (1965),
and Howe (1975).
Downey (1975) noted wide i n t r a - and in te r -popu la t i ona l v a r i a t i o n i n
these morphological c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . Even though o h l y 16 specimens o f
L. a. l o t i s were observed dur ing f i e l d work i n 1977-1981, considerable - - - morphological v a r i a t i o n was noted (Arnold, pers. observ.).
Hahi t a t Requirements
Hab i ta t requirements o f t he l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y a r e poor l y known.
Other races o f - L. argyrognomon u t i l i z e several legumes and l a r v a l
1 foodplants (Table 1). J. Emmel (pers. comm.) suspects t h a t C. a. 1 o t i s may use e i t h e r coast t r e f o i l (Lotus formosissimus) o r Bolander's
sweet pea (Lathyrus v e s t i t u s su bsp. bol anderi ) as 1 arva l foodplants.
I n 1970 he observed a female i n o v i p o s i t i o n behavior on Lotus
formosissimus. A1 though most adul t s were observed i n the bog, a few
o f t h e 16 adu l t s seen by Arnold s ince 1977 were found along Ca l i f o rn ia
Highway 1 i n assoc ia t i on w i t h a small patch o f coast t r e f o i l l e s s than
5 meters i n diameter. Only a few specimens o f t h e Lotus were found i n
t h e bog i t s e l f , bu t about 10 patches o f i t grow around the border o f
t he bog. These patches vary i n s i z e from less than 1 m t o 5 m i n
Dr . John F. Emmel, Hemet, CA.
Table 1
Suspected food p l a n t s o f severa l
races o f Lycaeides argyrognomon
Race Food p l a n t s Source
empetr i
r i c e i
sub1 i vens
Lupinus p o l y p h y l l u s
As t r a g a l us whi t n e y i
Lotus oblong i f 0 1 i u s
Empetrum n ig rum
Ledum p a l u s t r e
Kalmia po l i f o l i a
Lotus formosiss imus
Lupinus sp.
La t h y r u s t o r r e y i
V i c i a ex igua
Lo tus sp.
Lupinus p a r v i f l o r u s
C. K e l l n e r (pers. comm.)
I 1 I 1
Downey 31975
I 1
J. F. Emmel (pers . comm.)
R. A. Arno ld (pers .
observ.)
Downey 31975
81
J. F. Emmel (pers. comm.)
Downey 31975
diameter, No specimens o f Bolander 's sweet pea were noted i n t he bog.
ke rweed (Lotus scopar ius) was a1 so found on d r i e r ground adjacent t o
t he bog s i t e . However, no a d u l t s o f the l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y were
found i n assoc ia t i on w i t h e i t h e r t h e deerweed o r t h e sweet pea. Rice 's
b lue b u t t e r f l y [Lycaeides arqyrognomon r i c e i (Cross)] i n nor thern
C a l i f o r n i a and the Anna b lue b u t t e r f l y [Lycaeides arqyrognomon - anna
( W . F. Edwards)] use o the r Lotus species as t h e i r l a r v a l food-plants
1 (J. Emmel and C. Ke l l ne r , per. comm). Lycaeides 5. r i c e i i s
found i n boggy meadows s i m i l a r t o L. a. l o t i s . Thus w h i l e t he l a r v a l
foodp lan t o f C. 5. l o t i s has n o t been p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d , Lotus
formosissimus i s the pr imary candidate. . .
H a b i t a t Desc r ip t i on
H i s t o r i c a l l y , t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y has been found i n wet meadows
and sphagum-willow bogs ( T i l d e n 1965). Today t h e l o t i s blue b u t t e r f l y
i s known o n l y from a sphagnum bog i n the Pygmy Forest, Mendocino
County, Cal i fo rn ia . The bog i s surrounded by a c l osed-cone p ine
fo res t , dominated p r i m a r i l y by Bishop p ine (Pinus mur ica ta) w i t h an
er icaceous (Arctostaphylos, Kalmia, Gaul t h e r i a , e tc . ) understory. It
i s b isec ted by a Pac i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Company power1 i n e r i g h t - o f -
way. Other t r e e species t h a t occur s p o r a d i c a l l y i n the overs tory
M r . C l i n t o n Ke l lner , Department o f Zoology, U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , Davis.
i n c l u d e -pygmy cypress (Cupressus pygmaea) and grand fir ( h i e s
g r a n d i s ) . Both spec ies a r e dominant i n t h e coas ta l con i fe rous f o res t s
of Washington and Oregon, b u t reach t h e sou thern l i m i t s of t h e i r
d i s t r i b u t i o n .in Mendocino County (Munz and Keck 1968). Two o t h e r
ma jo r assoc ia tes i n t h e Pygmy F o r e s t vege ta t i on , beach p ine. (P inus
c o n t o r t a bar. bo lande r i ) and Ft . Bragg manzanita (A rc tos taphy l os
nummularia), a l s o grow a t t h e s i t e .
A ve ry dense shrub l a y e r i s p resen t th roughout t h e s i t e . Dominant
spec ies i n t h i s l a y e r i n c l u d e Cal i f o r n i a huck lebe r r y (Vaccinium
ovatum), western Labrador t e a (Ledum g landu l osum), s a l a l (Gaul t h e r i a
s h a l l o n ) , wax m y r t l e (Myr ica c a l i f o r n i c a ) , C a l i f o r n i a rose-bay
(Rhododendron macrophyl lum), western h a l o c k (Tsuga h e t e r o p h y l l a ) and
S i t k a spruce (P icea - s i t c h e n s i s ) . Other spec ies a t t h e s i t e i n c l u d e
sphagnum, sundew (Drosera r o t u n d i f o l i a ) , deer f e r n (Blechnum sp i can t ) ,
h o r s e t a i l (Equisetum sp.), and sedge (Carex sp.) .
One of t h e sedges, Carex c a l i f o r n i c a i s , i s ca tego r i zed as a Very Rare
and Endangered p l a n t by t h e C a l i f o r n i a Na t i ve P lan t Soc ie ty (CNPS).
Two o t h e r CNPS Rare and Endangered p l a n t species, b e l l f l o w e r
(Campanula c a l i f o r n i c a ) and c o a s t 1 i l y ( L i l ium mar i timum), may occur
a t t h e s i t e because bo th a r e known from f reshwater swamps and bogs
near t h e town o f Mendocino (Smi th e t a l . 1980).
The bog p o r t i o n o f t h e f o r e s t has poor d ra inage and deep depos i t s of
peat. Th is area i s cha rac te r i zed by water logged and h i g h l y a c i d i c
s o i l s . Flowing o r s tand ing water accumulat ing on t h e s o i l surface 0
i s s ta ined dark brown w i t h t h e tann ins leached from the peat.
S o i l s a t t h e s i t e a r e formed on P le is tocene beach depos i ts and belong
t o t h e Noyo se r i es . Under ly ing these depos i t s a t a depth o f about 30
meters i s t h e Franciscan Formation, c o n s i s t i n g o f graywac ke sands tone.
These beach depos i ts l a y on a se r i es o f f i v e e levated marine ter races,
each about 100,000 years o l d e r than t h e lower ad jacent one. The water
tab1 e i s f r e q u e n t l y w i t h i n 1 t o 2 v of t he sur face (Barbour and Pfajor
1977).
Past and Present P i s t r i b u t i o n
H i s t o r i c a l l y , t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y has been found a t several
coas ta l l o c a l i t i e s (F igu re 1) i n Mendocino, no r t he rn Sonoma and
p o s s i b l y n o r t h e r n Mar in Counties ( T i l d e n 1965; J. el ferl, pers.
comm. ). Un fo r tuna te ly , museum records general 1 y do n o t i n d i c a t e
p r e c i s e enough da ta t o accu ra te l y l o c a t e these a d d i t i o n a l s i t e s . No
records f o r 5onoma County were noted i n c o l l e c t i o n s a t t h e Ess ig
Museum o f Entomology ( U n i v e r s i t y o f Cal i f o r n i a , Berke ley) , Cal i f o r n i a
Academy o f Sciences, Los Angeles County Museum, no r i n t h e personal
c o l 1 e c t i o n o f D r . John Emmel .
Since la77, t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y has been known from one area
about 4.3 k i lometers n o r t h o f t h e t o r n o f Nendocino, Mendocino
County, C a l i f o r n i a . Arnold (1978, 1980) searched several o t h e r wet
3
' M r . Jacques He1 f e r , Natura l i s t , Pendocino County.
krgure 1. H i s t o r i c Co99ects'on o f L o t l s Blue Bu t te r f l y .
areas on- Cal i f o r n i a S ta te Park lands, lands near Jackson S ta te Forest
and p r i v a t e lands i n coas ta l Mendocino and Sonoma Counties bu t d i d n o t
1 oca t e addi t i o n a l co l oni es o f t he b u t t e r f l y . Areas examined were
h i s t o r i c a l c ,o l l ec t i on s i t e s and s i t e s t h a t appeared t o prov ide t h e
h a b i t a t o f t he l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y . Many o f t he col l e c t i o n s i t e s a r e
e i t h e r i n , o r on the per iphery o f , t h e Pygmy Forest. However, these
and o t h e r surveyed s i t e s lacked the assemblage o f bog p lan ts , such as
sphagnum and sundew, and the probable l a r v a l foodplant, Lotus
formosissimus, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f i t s present l o c a l i ty. U n t i l t he
l a r v a l foodp lan t i s p o s i t i v e l y determined, i t may be imprac t i ca l t o
cont inue searching f o r a d d i t i o n a l s i t e s .
L i f e H i s t o r y
L i t t l e i s known about the 1 i f e h i s t o r y o f t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y ,
thus in fo rmat ion i s ex t rapo la ted from c l o s e l y r e l a t e d species. Because
t h e l a r v a l foodplant i s n o t confirmed, no rea r ings o f t h i s b u t t e r f l y
have been conducted. Museum records suggest t h a t t he b u t t e r f l y has a
p ro t rac ted s i n g l e genera t ion (un i vo l t i n e ) , w i t h a d u l t f l i g h t occur r ing
from mid-Apr i l t o e a r l y Ju ly . Most c o l l e c t i o n records a r e frm
mid-May t o mid-June.
Other Nearc t ic races of - L. argyrognomon a re a l s o un i vo l t i n e (Downey
1975). It i s genera l l y bel ieved t h a t eggs a r e l a i d du r ing t h e a d u l t
f l i g h t season and newly hatched l a r v a e begin feeding immediately.
The second i n s t a r l a rvae begin diapause ( r e s t i n g stage du r ing l a r v a l
development) , which i s broken sometime du r iqg t h e f o l lowing spr ing.
Larval &uelopment i s general l y completed 4-6 weeks a f t e r feeding i s
resumed. Larvae o f o t h e r F k a r c t i c races o f L. argyrognomon feed on
leaves, f lowers , and seed pods. The pupal stage probably l a s t s no
more than a few weeks., The l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y probably undergoes a
s i m i l a r sequence o f events. However, C. K e l l n e r (pers. comm.) noted
t h a t - L. - a. -9 anna i n t h e T r i n i t y and S i e r r a Nevada Mountains, has an
obl i g a t e egg d i apause. Add i t i ona l research w i 11 be necessary t o
deduce s p e c i f i c l i f e h i s t o r y f ea tu res o f t h e L o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y .
Reasons f o r Dec l ine and Threats t o Su rv i va l
The l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y appears t o be a n a t u r a l l y r a r e i n s e c t w i t h
l ow popu la t i on d e n s i t i e s , a1 though t h i s cannot be confirmed. The
1 i m i t e d number of specimens i n museum c o l l e c t i o n s and personal
observat ions by 1 e p i d o p t e r i s t s prec lude an accura te assessment of t he
abundance of t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y p r i o r t o i t s l i s t i n g as an
endangered species. Based on d iscussions w i t h severa l l e p i d o p t e r i s t s
who c o l l e c t e d o r observed t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y p r i o r t o 1975, i t
i s apparent t h a t even then t h e b u t t e r f l y occurred a t a ve ry l ow
densi ty . Seven specimens a r e t h e most any c o l l e c t o r took on a s i n g l e
day, a l t hough another 12-15 specinlens were observed on t h a t same day
(J. h m e l , pers. comm.).
The reasons t h i s b u t t e r f l y may have decl ined a r e l a r g e l y specu la t i ve
o r 1 i m i t e d t o c i r c u m s t a n t i a l evidence. L o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y may have
decl ined .because o f n a t u r a l b i o l o g i c a l f a c t o r s ( h i g h l a r v a l mor ta l i ty,
succession o f p l a n t community, e tc . ) . C l ima t i c f a c t o r s o r a change i n
l a n d management p r a c t i c e s s i nce t h e a r r i v a l o f European man t o
C a l i f o r n i a may a l s o have a f f e c t e d t h e b u t t e r f l y . The drought d u r i n g
1976-1977 caused t h e wate r t a b l e i n Mendocino County t o drop below i t s
1 normal l e v e l ( l o c a l r es i den t s , pers. comm. w i t h Arnold ). The sphagnum
bog d r i e d o u t and no specimens o f t h e suspected l a r v a l foodp lan t were
noted w i t h i n t h e con f i nes o f t h e bog. L o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l i e s were n o t
observed t h a t year .
Suppression o f f i r e and o t h e r p r a c t i c e s t h a t cause d i s tu rbance o f t h e
f o r e s t may a f f e c t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n and abundance o f t h e foodplant , and
hence t h e abundance o f t h e b u t t e r f l y . As noted e a r l i e r , t h e o r l l y
probable l a r v a l foodplant , which grows i n 1 i m i t e d abundance near t h e
s i t e , i s Lotus fonnosissimus. Th i s p l a n t i s more abundant a long
roadcuts and graded areas. Several smal l , s ca t t e red patches of t he
p l a n t occur a1 ong f o r e s t edges, on d r i e r s i t e s ad jacen t t o t h e bog,
and i n f o r e s t c l ea r i ngs . Since 1977, t h e abundance o f Lotus a t these
l o c a l i z e d patches has dec l ined. Th i s appears t o be c o r r e l a t e d w i t h an
inc rease i n t h e amount o f shade a t t h e s i t e s i n c e 1977 as a r e s u l t of
t h e growth of t r ees (Arnold, unpubl. obser.). The Lotus i s a perenn ia l
t h a t i s a denizen of l o c a l l y d i s t u r b e d areas. As succession o f t h e
v e g e t a t i o n proceeds, t h i s p l a n t decreases i n abundance.
Dr. Richard Arnold, en tomolog is t , U n i v e r s i t y o f Cal i f o r n i a , Berkeley.
Logging o f t h e f o r e s t may a l s o a f f e c t t h e abundance o f t h e foodp lan t and
t h e b u t t e r f l y because o f changes i n water r e l a t i o n s , t h e b u i l d i n g o f
roads, and a1 so subsequent u r b a n i z a t i o n o f 1 ogged areas. Foodplant
d i s t r i b u t i o n i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y t h e key t o t h e abundance of t h e L o t i s
b l ue b u t t e r f l y because t h e b u t t e r f l y has n o t been fouund i n a1 1 of t h e
areas t h a t c o n t a i n coas t t r e f o i l . Some as y e t unknown i n t e r a c t i o n of
t h e b u t t e r f l y ' s b i o l o g y w i t h i t s f oodp lan t may k more impor tan t than
food p l a n t d i s t r i b u t i o n a lone i n de te rmin ing t h e d i s t r i b l ~ t i 0 n of t h e
1 o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y .
The l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y i s ex t reme ly vu l ne rab le t o f u r t h e r l o s s o r
a1 t e r a t i o n o f i t s h a b i t a t because o f i t s 1 i m i t e d d i s t r i b u t i o n and smal l
p o p u l a t i o n s i ze . P o t e n t i a l t h r e a t s t o t h e L o t i s h l u e - b u t t e r f l y and i t s
h a b i t a t i n c l u d e 1 ogging, peat min ing, power1 i n e c o r r i d o r maintenance o r
rep1 acement, use o f he rb i c i des o r i n s e c t i c i d e s , and impoundment o r
dra inage o f water. A t p resent t h e s i t e i s i n a near -na tu ra l c o n d i t i o n
bu t i t i s so sma l l i t i s s u s c e p t i b l e t o even ve ry l o c a l i z e d d is tu rbance .
A1 though most o f t h e f l o r a c o n s i s t s o f n a t i v e species, severa l annual
e x o t i c grasses a r e abundant and may r e q u i r e removal as they t h r e a t e n t o
d i s p l a c e n a t i v e vege ta t ion . A few e x o t i c f o r b s grow a t t h e s i t e , bu t
t h e i r numbers a r e sma l l enough t h a t c o n t r o l should c o n s i s t o f occas ional
weedi ng .
C o l l e c t i o n o f any l i f e s tage o f t h e b u t t e r f l y (egg, l a r v a , pupa, a d u l t )
cou ld he de t r imen ta l becal~se o f i t s 1 i m i t e d numbers. Even a f t e r
management and recovery a c t ions a r e imp1 emented , t h e b u t t e r f l y ' s numbers
w i l l p robably remain l ow and v a r i a b l e . For whatever reason, these
bu t t e r f l i e s a r e o n l y sometimes observed.
Par t I 1
Recovery
Object ives
I n t e r i m ob jec t i ves o f the l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y recovery plan a r e t o
1) p ro tec t the b u t t e r f l y and i t s h a b i t a t on the e x i s t i n g 2 hectare
s i t e , 2) e s t a b l i s h th ree new, v i a b l e s e l f sus ta in ing populat ions o f
t he l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y a t s i t e s each w i t h a t l e a s t 2 hectares o f
s u i t a b l e hab i ta t , and 3 ) determine the ex ten t o f the popu la t ion and
s i z e of t h e secure h a b i t a t s necessary before t h e species can be
considered f o r r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n t o threatened s ta tus and eventual
d e l i s t i n g . There i s i n s u f f i c i e n t i n fo rma t ion on t h e l i f e h i s to ry ,
d i s t r i b u t i o n and h a b i t a t requirements o f the l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y . A
primary requirement o f t h i s recovery p lan i s t o gain s u f f i c i e n t
in fo rmat ion concerning the b u t t e r f l y ' s popu la t ion b i 01 ogy, habi t a t
requirements, and d i s t r i b u t i o n t o de f i ne management needs and the
d i r e c t i o n t h a t recovery e f f o r t s should take. The i n fo rma t ion acqui red
w i l l be necessary f o r determining t h e numbers and d i s t r i b u t i o n
necessary t o more c l e a r l y d e f i n e r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n and del i s t i n g
c r i t e r i a .
Meeting a l l the ob jec t ives o f the recovery p lan w i l l be extremely
d i f f i c u l t because t h i s b u t t e r f l y i s so scarce. Present ly, t he re i s
t o o l i t t l e i n fo rma t ion t o determine a t what p o i n t the l o t i s b lue
b u t t e r f l y w i l l be considered recovered and, hence, qua1 i f i e d for
d e l i s t i n g . The r e s t r i c t e d c u r r e n t range o f t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y
suggests t h a t e x t i n c t i o n may always be a t h r e a t .
A t present , recovery a c t i o n s f o r t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y must contend
w i t h t h r e e ma jo r problems: 1) the b u t t e r f l y ' s ex t reme ly 1 i m i t e d
d i s t r i b u t i o n and l ow abundance, 2) inadequate knowledge of i t s
autecology, and 3 ) an incomplete understanding o f f a c t o r s t h a t l e d t o
i t s dec l i ne . These problems make t h e b u t t e r f l y vu lne rab le t o
e x t i n c t i o n through chavce environmental events desp i t e t i m e l y
implementat ion o f recovery and management a c t i v i t i e s . Th is recovery
p l a n emphasizes p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e o h l y known h a b i t a t i n con junc t i on
w i t h bas i c e c o l o g i c a l research designed t o improve ou r understanding
o f t h e popu la t ion b i o l o g y and h a b i t a t requirements o f t h e l o t i s b l ue
b u t t e r f l y .
Step-down O u t l i n e
The i n t e r i m o b j e c t i v e s o f t h i s recovery p l an a re t o 1 ) p r o t e c t t he
l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y (LBB) and i t s h a b i t a t on e x i s t i n g h a b i t a t o f
about 2 hectares; 2 ) e s t a b l i s h t h r e e new, v i ab le , s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g
popu la t i ons each on a t l e a s t 2 hectares o f s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t ; and 3 )
determine t h e popu la t i on s i z e and s i z e o f secure h a b i t a t s necessary
f o r r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n t o threatened s t a t u s and eventual de l i s t i n g .
1 . Preserve and p r o t e c t t h e known 1 o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y popul a t i o n s
and any newly d iscovered and/or r ees tab l i shed s i t e s .
11. Conduct vege ta t i on s tud ies a t co lony s i t e ( s ) t o i d e n t i f y
o t h e r management needs.
11 1. I n v e s t i g a t e synecology o f wet meadows, bog, and f o r e s t
112. I n v e s t i g a t e autecology o f l a r v a l and a d u l t foodpl ants ,
once these a re i d e n t i f i e d .
113. I d e n t i f y vege ta t i on management needs.
12. Ma in ta i n resources f o r l a r v a e and a d u l t s a t t he s i t e ( s ) .
121. Min imize use o f i n s e c t i c i d e s and he rb i c i des .
122. Min imize o the r a c t i v i t i e s t h a t a re incompat ib le w i t h
vege ta t ion and h a b i t a t maintenance and management.
13. Develop and implement management s t r a t e g i e s , and r e v i s e as
necessary.
14. Survey known LRB c o l o n y ( i e s ) h a b i t a t a n n u a l l y t o
determine popu la t i on s t a t u s , and r e v i s e management
s t r a t e g i e s accord ing ly .
141. Study o t h e r Lycaeides argyrognomon races t o develop
and t e s t m o n i t o r i n g methods f o r LBB.
142. Survey known habi t a t annual ly.
15. Survey a d d i t i o n a l s i t e s w i t h i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l range of
t h e LBB f o r presence o f p o t e n t i a l l a r v a l foodp lan ts , h a b i t a t ,
and LBB popula t ions.
2. Es tab l i s h t h r e e new, s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g , v i a b l e popu la t ions each on
a t l e a s t 2 hectares o f s u i t a b l e , secure h a b i t a t .
21. Se lec t h a b i t a t s i t e s .
22. Secure h a b i t a t s i t e s .
23. Rehabi 1 i t a t e se l ec ted , secure habi t a t s i t e s . 231. Remove e x o t i c f l o r a and fauna.
232. If needed, r e i n t r o d u c e necessary b i o l o g i c a l components
o f l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y h a b i t a t as i d e n t i f i e d by
e c o l o g i c a l s tud ies .
24. Prov ide LBB s tock f o r r e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o se lec ted s i t e s .
241. Obta in LBB f rom t h e e x i s t i n g co lony f o r d i r e c t
r e i n t r o d u c t i o n and/or t o serve as broodstock.
242. Fu rn i sh LBB s t o c k v i a c a p t i v e breeding program ( i f
necessary) .
2421. Determine t h e necess i t y and f e a s i b i l i t y o f
c a p t i v e propagation.
2422. Rear i n d i v i d u a l s o f su r roga te Lycaeides
a rgyrognomon subspecies t o r e f i n e r e a r i n g
techniques be fo re LBB c a p t i v e breeding i s
at tempted.
2423. Devise an a r t i f i c i a l d i e t f o r e f f i c i e n t l a b
r e a r i n g o f LBB.
2424. Rear t h e LBB f rom eggs l a i d by s tock captured
a t t h e known colony.
25. Transplant i n d i v i d u a l s o f su r roga te - L. argyrognomon
subspecies t o r e f i n e techniques f o r es tab l i s h i n g new
b u t t e r f l y populat ions.
26. Reintroduce LBB i n t o secure h a b i t a t .
Conduct eco log i ca l s t ud ies t o develop a d d i t i o n a l management
recommendations and t o determine c r i t e r i a f o r r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
and del i s t i n g .
31. Determine l a r v a l and a d l l l t h o s t p l a n t s and assess s ta tus .
32. Descr ibe LBB's egg, l a r v a l , pupal morphology, and
p h y s i o l o g i c a l requirements.
33. Descr ibe t h e l i f e t ab le , sex r a t i o , and popu la t i on s i z e o f
t h e known LBB co lony and any new s i t e s .
34. I d e n t i f y predators, paras i t o i d s , and 1 a r v a l symbrionts.
35. Lkscr ibe a d u l t behavior, mat ing, fo rag ing , o v i p o s i t i o n , e t c .
36. Determine h a b i t a t requirements and u t i l i z a t i o n .
37. Decide i f more popu la t ions a r e necessary f o r recovery.
4. Develop publ i c awareness o f LBB.
41. Prov ide aud io -v isua l programs f o r publ i c d isp lay .
42. Erec t i n t e r p r e t i v e s igns on s t a t e park lands.
5. U t i l i z e e x i s t i n g laws and r e g u l a t i o n s p r o t e c t i n g t h e LBS.
51. Enforce l a n d use p lans and ordinances t o p r o t e c t LBB
h a b i t a t .
52. Mon i t o r agency compliance w i t h Sec t i on 7 o f t h e Endangered
Species Act, as amended, concern ing t h e 1 o t i s b lue
b u t t e r f l y .
53. Enforce a l l laws p r o h i b i t i n g t h e take o f t h e l o t i s b l ue
b u t t e r f l y .
531. Enforce s t a t e and Federal laws.
532. Evaluate success o f l aw enforcement.
533. Propose a p p r o p r i a t e new r e g u l a t i o n s o r r ev i s i ons .
N a r r a t i v e -
Preserve and p r o t e c t the known l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y popu la t i on
and and newly d iscovered and/or es tab l i shed s i t e s .
The l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y i s now known from o n l y one s i t e .
The Serv ice should i n v e s t i g a t e t h e f e a s i b i l i t y of an
agreement w i t h t h e landowner o f t h e l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y ' s
h a b i t a t and t h e owners o f t h e ad jacen t lands t o i n s u r e t h e
p r e s e r v a t i o n o f l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y ' s h a b i t a t . A Land
P r o t e c t i o n Plan should be developed t o i n v e s t i g a t e a1 1
op t i ons t o p r o t e c t h a b i t a t w i t h i n t h e h i s t o r i c range.
Coord ina t ion w i t h l o c a l governments, i n c l u d i n g Cal i fo rn ia
Coastal Commission and nearby 1 and owners, wi 11 be necessary
t o i n s u r e p r e s e r v a t i o n ' o f t h e s i t e . Any changes i n l and use
p r a c t i c e s a t t h e s i t e should be de fe r red u n t i l foodp lan ts
and h a b i t a t requirements a r e i d e n t i f i e d and a r e b e t t e r
u nde r s tood .
Prese rva t i on and p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y s i t e
i n c l u d e maintenance o f t h e vege ta t i on a t t h e s i t e , p reven t ion of
l a n d use changes and m in im iz i ng t h e use o f he rb i c i des and
i n s e c t i c i d e s on o r w i t h i n d r i f t d i s t ance o f t h e s i t e . I t i s
a b s o l u t e l y v i t a l t o t h e success o f t h i s recovery p l an t h a t t h e
o n l y known h a b i t a t f o r LBB be preserved.
11. Conduct vegat ion studies a t co lony s i t e t o i d e n t i f y o the r management
needs.
Once the l a r v a l hos t p l a n t i s i d e n t i f i e d , an a n a l y s i s i s needed t o
determine the successional stage i n the p l a n t community t h a t i s
most b e n e f i c i a l t o t h e b u t t e r f l y . This ' w i l l determine the type o f
management needs and a c t i v i t i e s t h a t a r e appropriate.
111. I n v e s t i g a t e synecoloqy o f wet meadows, boq, and f o r e s t . Determinat ion o f t he t ime scale o f the successional sequence
from bog t o wet meadow t o f o r e s t i s necessary f o r long-term
management.
112. I n v e s t i g a t e autecol ogy o f 1 a w a l and adul t foodpl ants, once
these a r e i d e n t i f i e d .
This i n fo rma t ion i s needed t o manage these p lan ts and a1 so t o
augment populat ions o f these p lan ts on the s i t e , i f necessary.
113. I d e n t i f y vege ta t i on management needs.
U t i l i z i n g the eco log ica l i n fo rma t ion concerning the
i n t e r a c t i o n s o f p lan ts and the insec t , a vege ta t i on management
program should should be developed. The major focus of the
management program should be t o prov ide h a b i t a t f o r t he
b u t t e r f l y on a con t i nu ing basis.
12. Ma in ta in resources f o r l a r v a e and a d u l t s a t t he s i t e .
Possible host and nec tar p lan ts t h a t may be u t i l i z e d by the
b u t t e r f l y should be maintained a t t h e s i t e . This would
'p rec lude l a n d use changes and non -spec i f i c use o f herb ic ides
and i n s e c t i c i d e s nearby.
121. Min imize use o f i n s e c t i c i d e s and herb ic ides . The a e r i a l , non -spec i f i c a p p l i c a t i o n s of he rb i c i des and
i n s e c t i c i d e s pose a g r e a t t h r e a t t o t h e L o t i s b l ue
b u t t e r f l y . D r i f t from t h i s k i n d of a p p l i c a t i o n has t h e
p o t e n t i a l t o cause t h e e x t i n c t i o n of t h i s p a r t i c u l a r
subspecies. I f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a p e s t i c i d e nearby i s
a b s o l u t e l y necessary, t h e n i t should be done by hand on
s p e c i f i c t a rge t s . P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c (PG&E),
which owns a r i gh t -o f -way th rough t h e h a b i t a t , w i l l be a
key p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h i s task. Coord ina t ion among PG&E,
FWS and t he landowners w i l l be impor tan t .
Min imize o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s t h a t a r e incompat ib le w i t h
v e g e t a t i o n and h a b i t a t maintenance and management.
Other a c t i v i t i e s which may seve re l y a f f e c t t h e maintenance
o f t he h a b i t a t i n c l u d e o v e r d r a f t o f t h e a q u i f e r and
"brushing" o r f i r e c o n t r o l a c t i v i t i e s which may remove o r
d i s t u r b t h e h o s t p l a n t . These should be minimized as much
as poss ib le . Again PG&E w i l l be a key p a r t i c i p a n t and
i n t e r - p a r t y c o o r d i n a t i o n w i l l be v i t a l t o t h e success of
t h i s task .
13. Devel op and impl ement management s t r a teg i es , and rev i se as
necessary.
Once s u f f i c i e n t b i o l o g i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n i s gathered i t w i l l be
poss ib l e t o make an appra isa l o f more s p e c i f i c recovery
a c t i v i t i e s needed. A t h i s s tage management s t r a t e g i e s
u t i l i z i ng t he p e r t i n e n t i n f o r m a t i o n should be developed and
subsequent ly impl emented. Assessment and r e v i s i o n of
management s t r a t e g i e s must n e c e s s a r i l y be a con t i nua l process
as new i n f o r m a t i o n i s gathered on t h i s species. As management
s t r a t e g i e s a r e developed f o r i n d i v i d u a l areas and/or co lon ies
t hey should be e x p e d i t i o u s l y implemented t o conserve and
p r o p e r l y manage e s s e n t i a l h a b i t a t .
14. Survey known LBB co lony ( i es ) h a b i t a t annua l l y t o determine
popu la t ion s ta tus , and r e v i s e management s t r a t e g i e s
accord ing ly .
The p recar ious n a t u r e o f t h e o n l y known l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y
co lony r e q u i r e s cont inued mon i t o r i ng t o assess i t s s ta tus . As
management ac t i ons a r e implemented, p e r i od ic moni t o r i n g should
be undertaken t o determine t h e success o f these a c t i v i t i e s . It
would be adv i sab le t o s tudy o t h e r subspecies o f Lycaeides
argyrognomon, t h a t i n h a b i t wet meadows o r bogs, t o develop and
r e f i n e mon i t o r i ng techniques f o r t h e 1 o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y .
141. Study o t h e r Lycaeides argyrognomon races t o develop and
t e s t mon i t o r i ng methods f o r LBE.
Because t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y occurs i n such l ow
numbers, s i g n i f i c a n t survey methods a r e d i f f i c u l t t o
design. An a p p r o p r i a t e survey method i s needed t h a t
w i l l i n d i c a t e popu la t ion d i s t r i b u t i o n and trends. Such
a method should be developed and t es ted us ing o t h e r
races o f Lycaeides argyrognomon.
142. Survey known h a b i t a t annual ly.
An annual survey o f t h e known h a b i t a t i s needed t o
determine t h e s t a t u s o f t h e b u t t e r f l y and t o
determine t he p r i o r i t y o f a c t i o n s necessary t o p r o t e c t
and recover t h e su bspeci es .
15. Survey a d d i t i o n a l s i t e s w i t h i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l range of t he
l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y f o r presence o f p o t e n t i a l l a r v a l
foodplants , h a b i t a t and LBB populat ions.
I n f r a red and convent ional a e r i a l photography a r e useful i n
i d e n t i f y i n g wet meadow and boggy h a b i t a t s i t e s . These could
then be examined by ground surveys t o v e r i f y presencelabsence
o f t he b u t t e r f l y o r i t s l a r v a l and a d u l t foodplants. Herbar ia
records o f t h e t h r e e p o t e n t i a l l a r v a l food p l a n t s (Lotus
formosissimus, C. scoparius, and Lathyrus v e s t i t us ) have k e n
c o l l a t e d from U n i v e r s i t y o f Cal i f o r n i a ( i n c l u d i n g t he Jepson
Herbarium), Cal i f o r n i a Academy o f Sciences, and Los Angel es
County Museum o f Natura l H i s to r y . Other i n s t i t u t i o n s
a1 so should be consul ted f o r records o f these p lan t s w i t h i n t he
h i s t o r i c a l range o f t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y . The new s i t e s
should be v i s i t e d d u r i n g t h e f l i g h t season o f t h e b u t t e r f l y .
Add i t i ona l surveys o f s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t should be conducted
a t Po in t Arena, Pygmy Forest, Russian Gulch S t a t e Park, Van
Damme Sta te Park, B i g River , and B ig Lagoon. These s i t e s
represen t h i s t o r i c co l l e c t i o n 1 ocal i t i e s and s u i t a b l e o r
p o t e n t i a l l y s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t l o c a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e est imated
ranae o f t h e species.
Establ i s h t h r e e new, se l f - sus ta i n i ng , v i a b l e populat ions each on a t
l e a s t 2 hectares o f s u i t a b l e , secure h a b i t a t .
Several 1 oca l i t i e s a long t h e Mendocino coast1 i n e resemble t h e h a b i t a t
a t t h e known co lony s i t e and cou ld serve as s i t e s fo r t h e
r e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t he l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y . These areas a r e near
h i s t o r i c a l c o l l e c t i o n s i t e s o f t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y and a r e
w i t h i n i t s h i s t o r i c a l range. S i t es w i l l undoubtedly be smal l and
may he on pu b l i c o r p r i v a t e 1 ands. Agreements w i t h owners
should be developed t o implement t h i s task.
21. Se lec t h a b i t a t s i t e s .
S i t e s w i l l be i d e n t i f i e d and descr ibed by task 15. P o t e n t i a l
h a b i t a t areas should he se lec ted from those s i t e s i d e n t i f i e d
i n task 15 w i t h i n t he h i s t o r i c range o f t he species on t h e
bas is o f p o t e n t i a l f o r r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f t h e h a b i t a t and t h e
a b i l i t y t o secure t h e s i t e frorr, d e s t r u c t i o n .
22. Secure hahi t a t s i t e s .
Once t h e b i o l o g i c a l and h a b i t a t requirements o f t h e l o t i s h lue
b u t t e r f l y a r e b e t t e r known, app rop r i a te areas t h a t s a t i s f y
these requirements should be evaluated as b u t t e r f l y h a b i t a t .
Appropr ia te s i t e s should be secured by agreements w i t h
p rope r t y owners. The Land P r o t e c t i o n Plan process may p l a y a
p a r t i n t ask complet ion.
23. Rehabi 1 i t a t e se lec ted , secure habi t a t s i t e s .
Selected s i t e s may need t o be r e h a b i l i t a t e d before
r e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e b u t t e r f l y can take place.
231. Remove e x o t i c f l o r a and fauna.
Removal o f non-nat ive f l o r a and fauna may he necessary
t o p rov ide app rop r i a te h a b i t a t f o r h o s t p l a n t s o r
symb io t i c a n t assoc ia tes.
232. If needed r e - i n t roduce necessary b i 01 og i ca l components o f
l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y h a b i t a t as i d e n t i f i e d by eco log i ca l
s tud ies .
It may be necessary t o r e - i n t r oduce t h e h o s t p l a n t o f t h e
l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y , symb io t i c a n t species, o r o t h e r
b i o l o g i c a l components t o t h e r e i n t r o d u c t i o n s i t e s t o
p rov ide h a b i t a t f o r t h e b u t t e r f l y .
24. Prov ide LBB s tock f o r r e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o se lected s i t e s .
E s t a b l i s h i n g new co lon ies o f t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y w i l l be
d i f f i c u l t because t h e species i s scarce. The f e a s i b i l i t y o f
two d i f f e r e n t methods o f co lony estab l ishment w i l l be examined:
1) t r a n s p l a n t i n g a d u l t s f rom t h e ex tan t s i t e t o new co lony
areas, 2 ) es tab l i s h i n g a l a b o r a t o r y co lony ( c a p t i v e breeding)
of t h e l o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y t o p rov ide s tock f o r r e l ease t o
t h e new co lony s i t e s . Th is i nc l udes r e l e a s i n g adu l t s t h a t a r e
reared from eggs l a i d by females captured from t h e e x i s t i n g
colony. The use o f su r roga te species t o develop r e a r i n g
techniques w i 11 be considered p r i o r t o implementing t h i s
task.
241. Obtain LBB f rom t h e e x i s t i n g co lony f o r d i r e c t
r e i n t r o d u c t i o n and/or t o serve as brood s tock.
T ransp lan t ing a d u l t l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l i e s from t h e
e x t a n t s i t e t o new co lony areas i s f e a s i b l e i f t h e s i z e
of t h e popu la t i on i s l a r g e enough t o suppor t such an
en te rp r i se . C r i t i c a l eva lua t i on o f t h e a b i l i t y of t h e
e x i s t i n g p o p u l a t i o n t o s u s t a i n such removal w i l l be made.
T ransp lan t ing a d u l t s may a l so be a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e if
t h e b u t t e r f l y s u f f e r s a h i g h m o r t a l i t y i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y
r e a r i n g o r c a p t i v e breeding programs.
242. Furn ish LBB s tock v i a c a p t i v e breeding program ( i f
necessary) . Developing a c a p t i v e breeding program f o r t h e l o t i s b l u e
b u t t e r f l y may be d i f f i c u l t because l ycaen id b u t t e r f l i e s
have y e t t o be bred i n c a p t i v i t y . Furthermore, because
t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y i s u n i v o l t i n e , i t may take many
years t o b u i l d up a s i z e a b l e l a b o r a t o r y populat ion.
Nevertheless, i t may be e s s e n t i a l t h a t a c a p t i v e breeding
program be developed so t h a t t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y can
be in t roduced i n t o areas t o form new co lon ies .
2421. Determine t h e necess i t y and f e a s i b i l i ty o f c a p t i v e
p ropagat ion .
I f surveys show l ow popu la t i on numbers and few
h a b i t a t s , r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f h a b i t a t s may depend on
c a p t i v e propagat ion. A d e c i s i o n on t h i s task
should a w a i t more thorough f i e l d surveys.
2422. Rear i n d i v i d u a l s o f su r roaa te Lycaeides
argyronomon subspecies t o r e f i n e r e a r i n g
techniques be fo re LBB c a p t i v e breeding i s
attempted.
Other, more ahundant races o f Lycaeides
argyrognomon o r c l ose l y a1 1 i ed species should be
u t i l i z e d as sur roga tes t o r e f i n e techniques o f
1 abora to ry r e a r i n g and c a p t i v e propagation.
2423. Devise an a r t i f i c i a l d i e t f o r e f f i c i e n t l a b
r e a r i n g o f LBB.
Rearing o f herb ivorous i n s e c t s under 1 abora to ry
c o n d i t i o n s i s f a c i l i t a t e d by t h e use o f a r t i f i c i a l
d i e t s . Pre l im ina ry a r t i f i c i a l d i e t s have been
developed f o r two endangered b u t t e r f l ies , Palos
Verdes b l u e (U.S. F ish and W i l d l i f e Serv ice 1984)
and Lange's metal mark (Apodemia mormo l a n g e i )
(A rno ld 1981b). Refinements a r e necessary be fo re
these d i e t s can he u t i l ized f o r l a rge -sca le cap t i ve
breeding; however, t h e p r e l im inary f i n d i n g s a r e
a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e development o f an a r t i f i c i a l d i e t
f o r Lycaeides argyrognomon l o t i s . Growing s u i tab1 e
hos t p l a n t s i n a greenhouse may be an a1 t e r n a t i v e
t o a r t i f i c i a l d i e t s , should t h e a r t i f i c i a l d i e t
be unacceptable t o t h e c a t e r p i l l a r s .
2424. Rear t h e LBB from eggs l a i d by s tock captured a t
t h e known co l ony.
It i s p o s s i b l e t o cap tu re o v i p o s i t i n g females and r e a r
t h e i r eggs i n t h e l abo ra to r y . Th is o f t e n increases
t h e number o f a d u l t s over those t h a t would su rv i ve t o
t h e a d u l t s tage i n nature.
25. Transplant i n d i v i d u a l s o f su r roga te L. argyrognanon suhspeci es t o
r e f i n e techniques f o r es tab l i s h i n g new b u t t e r f l y populat ions.
T ransp lan ta t i on o f b u t t e r f l y co lon ies should be t h rough l y s tud ied
w i t h a sur roga te subspecies o f - L. a rgyrognomon be fo re any
t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n i s at tempted w i t h l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y . Such
exper iments w i t h t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n o n l y w i l l be done w i t h i n t h e
known h i s t o r i c a l range o f t h e su r roga te subspecies and ou ts ide
t h e known h i s t o r i c a l range o f t h e LBB.
26. Reintroduce LBB i n t o secure hab i ta t .
The h a b i t a t should be prepared and secured before r e i n t r o d u c t i o n
o f the bu t te r1 fy. Close mon i to r ing i s requ i red f o r any
r e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f the b u t t e r f l y .
3. Conduct eco log ica l s tudies t o develop a d d i t i o n a l management
recommendations and t o determine c r i t e r i a for r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
and del i s t i ng .
The work o f Arnold (1978, 1980, 1981a) should be supplemented by
add i t iona l f i e l d and l abo ra to ry s tudies. Continued surveys of
no r the rn Sonoma County p lus southern and cent ra l Mendocino County
coasta l regions are necessary t o e s t a b l i s h whether o r no t other
h i s t o r i c o r undiscovered colonies of l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y s t i l l
e x i s t .
Add i t iona l autecol og ica l research i s needed t o d iscover l a r v a l and
a d u l t foodplants, descr ibe the l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y ' s 1 i f e h i s t o r y
i d e n t i f y predators, paras i to ids , and o t h e r morta l i ty factors, as we1 1
as poss ib le l a r v a l symbionts. U t i l i z i n g t h i s in format ion, we can
begin t o de f i ne recovery f o r t h i s species.
Synecological s tud ies o f bog, wet meadow, and f o r e s t hab i ta t s w i l l
be needed i n con junc t ion w i t h autecoloqical s tud ies on l a r v a l and
adul t foodpl ants, once they a re i d e n t i f i e d , t o b e t t e r understand
the vegeta t ion dynamics a t these s i t e s . Findings from these
s tud ies should be incorporated i n t o management programs.
Fo l low ing achievement o f i n t e r i m o b j e c t i v e s i t w i l l be necessary t o
eva lua te t he e f f i c a c y o f those steps and determine f u r t h e r ac t i ons • necessary f o r r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o r t o ach ieve f i n a l recovery o f t he
LBB. It w i l l be necessary t o eva lua te t h e h e a l t h o f t h e t h r e e
new popu la t ions as we1 1 as t he e x i s t i n g Mendoci no County h a b i t a t .
If i t i s concluded t h a t t h e e x t a n t popu la t ions a r e n o t s u f f i c i e n t
t o de l i s t t he species, a d d i t i o n a l new popu la t ions may be requ i red .
Determine l a r v a l and a d u l t h o s t p l a n t s and assess s ta tus .
Larva l and a d u l t food p l a n t s f o r t h e b u t t e r f l y a r e as y e t
unknown. T h e i r i d e n t i t y and s t a t u s need t o be determined i n
o r d e r t h a t research i n t o management o f t he l o t i s b lue h a b i t a t
can go forward. The number, d i s t r i b u t i o n , and v i g o r o f hos t
p l a n t s a t a h a b i t a t s i t e i s v i t a l f o r maintenance o f LBB.
These f a c t o r s must be c a r e f u l l y eva luated t o determine t he
q u a l i t y o f t he h a b i t a t .
32. Descr ibe t he LRB's eqq l a r v a l , pupal morphology, and
p h y s i o l o g i c a l requirements.
L o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y egg, l a r v a l and pupal morphology needs t o
be descr ibed. Th is would f a c i l i t a t e t h e s tudy o f a l l l i f e
stages o f t he animal.
33. k s c r i b e t h e l i f e t a b l e , sex r a t i o and popu la t i on s i z e o f t he
known LBB co lony and any new s i t e s .
The d e s c r i p t i o n o f these parameters o f t he l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y
co lony w i l l r e q u i r e i n t e n s i v e s tudy over t h e summer f l i g h t a
season. Th is i n f o r m a t i o n i s needed t o determine when t o co l l e c t
o v i p o s i t i n g females ( f o r c a p t i v e breeding) as we l l as t o p rov ide
a basel i n e o f i n f o r m a t i o n f o r f u t u r e mon i t o r i ng purposes.
34. I d e n t i f y predators , paras i t o i d s and l a r v a l symbionts.
These eco log i ca l f a c t o r s need t o be i d e n t i f i e d and i nves t i ga ted
be fo re any management a c t i v i t i e s a r e undertaken. Management
a c t i v i t i e s may a f f e c t s i ze , presence and popu la t i on of
pa ras i t o i d s and predators. I f l a r v a l symbionts (most 1 i k e l y
an t s ) a r e discovered, t h e i r requirements should a1 so be
i nves t i ga ted .
35. Descr ibe a d u l t behavior, mat ing, fo rag ing , o v i p o s i t i o n , e t c .
As t h e r e s u l t o f low d e n s i t y o f a d u l t s a t t h e o n l y known
colony, recap tu re - recap tu re s tud ies , which have prov ided
va luab le i n f o r m a t i o n on o t h e r endangered b u t t e r f l i es (Arnold
1980), have n o t been performed. Because t h e b u t t e r f l i e s a r e
so scarce, l i t t l e in fo rmat ion i s a v a i l a b l e on t h e b u t t e r f l y ' s
h a b i t a t requirements and u t i l i z a t i o n . It would be adv i sab le
t o p e r f o m capture- recapture s tud ies on o the r races of
Lycaeides argyrognmon and use t h e f i n d i n g s on dens i ty ,
v a g i l i t y and popu la t ion s i z e t o ga in i n s i g h t on t h e popu la t ion
b i o l o g y o f - L. a. l o t i s . R ice 's , Anna and Err~petrum &. a. empet r i [Freeman]) b lue b u t t e r f l i e s a r e bog o r wet meadow
i n h a b i t a n t s t h a t m i g h t serve as u s e f u l sur rogates.
36. Determine h a b i t a t requirements and u t i l i z a t i o n .
H a b i t a t requirements a r e known o n l y by i n fe rence from the few
c o l l e c t i o n s made a t t h e present s i t e and from i n fe rence from
o t h e r subspecies. These r e a u i rements need t o be determined
f o r p roper management t o take place.
37. Decide i f more popu la t ions a r e necessary f o r recovery.
Upon comple t ion o f eva lua t i ons d e t a i l e d i n Tasks #41-46, i t
must be decided whether a d d i t i o n a l new h a b i t a t s i t e s a r e
needed and how they can be es tab l i shed . The n w ~ b e r , s i z e and
l o c a t i o n o f new recovery s i t e s must be determined. If i n t e r i m
o b j e c t i v e s appear s u f f i c i e n t t o recover t h e species,
recorr~~nendations w i l l t hen be made regard ing r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n .
4. Develop p u b l i c awareness o f LBB.
E f f o r t s t o preserve t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y cou ld be g r e a t l y
f ac i 1 i ta ted by g a i n i n g publ i c suppor t through outdoor educa t ion
a c t i v i t i e s t h a t i n f o rm t h e p u b l i c o f t h e b u t t e r f l y ' s endangered
s t a t u s .
41. Prov ide aud io -v isua l programs f o r publ i c d i sp lay .
Many res iden t s and v i s i t o r s t o Mendocino County a r e g r e a t l y
concerned w i t h conse rva t i on o f t h e a rea 's n a t u r a l resources
and would welcome i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y .
Audio-v isual programs cou ld he u t il ized t o p rov ide i nformat i on
t o l o c a l r es i den t s and s t a t e park v i s i t o r s .
42. Erec t i n t e r p r e t i v e s igns on s t a t e park lands.
Three s t a t e parks l i e w i t h i n 30 k i lometers o f t he o n l y known
colony. I n fo rma t i on s igns nea r t h e bogs i n these parks would
i n f o r m v i s i t o r s and l o c a l r e s i d e n t s o f t h e unique na tu re of
t h e f l o r a and fauna present i n t h e bog/meadow h a b i t a t s where
t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y i s found.
5. U t i l i z e e x i s t i n g laws and r e p u l a t i o n s p r o t e c t i n g t h e LBB.
Law enforcement would be more o f a mon i t o r i ng o f a c t i v i t i e s and
implementat ion o f l and use pol i c y on o r near t h e s i t e . Because
o f t he ex t reme ly low abundance, " t ak i ng " i s a p o t e n t i a l l y se r ious
problem. Laws t h a t p r o t e c t t h e b u t t e r f l y should be enforced t o
p r o t e c t t h e cont inued ex i s tence o f t h e species.
51. Enforce l a n d use plans and ordinances t o p r o t e c t LBB h a b i t a t .
The coopera t ion o f Fiendocino County and t h e Cal i f o r n i a Coastal
Cornmission i s needed t o des igna te t h i s area as an
Environmental l y S e n s i t i v e H a b i t a t (Cal i f o r n i a Coastal Act o f
1976) and t o p r o t e c t i t f rom d e s t r u c t i o n through unacceptable
l a n d uses.
52. Cloni tor aqency compliance w i t h Sec t ion 7 o f t he Endangered
Species Act, as amended, concern ing t h e l o t i s b lue b u t t e r f l y .
Agency compl iance w i t h Sec t ion 7 consul t a t i o n s i s an i n t e g r a l
p a r t o f any recovery program. Federal agencies should n o t o n l y
i n s u r e t h a t t h e i r ac t i ons a r e n o t l i k e l y t o jeopard ize t h e
cont inued ex is tence o f t h e b u t t e r f l y , b u t should a1 so c o n t r i b u t e
t o t h e recovery o f t h e species. Agencies should t he re fo re be
encouraged t o accept conserva t ion recommendations which a r e
prov ided d u r i n g consul t a t i o n .
53. Enforce a l l laws p r o h i b i t i n g t h e take o f t h e l o t i s b l ue
b u t t e r f l y .
A1 1 e x i s t i n g laws and r e g u l a t i o n s should be enforced f o r t h e
p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y and i t s h a h i t a t . A l l
Federal a c t i o n s which f a l l under t h e perview of Sec t i on 7 of
t h e ESA should be rev iewed through consul t a t i o n w i t h t h e F i s h
and W i l d l i f e Serv ice. H a b i t a t liiaps and r e g u l a t i o n summaries
should be d i s t r i b u t e d t o a l l Department o f F i sh and Game f i e l d
personnel and a p p r o p r i a t e personnel o f o t h e r agencies, so t hey
w i l l be aware o f t h e lands where t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y e x i s t s ,
and t h e a c t i v i t i e s which a r e i n v i o l a t i o n o f t he laws and
r e g u l a t i o n s . Each coun ty where t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y e x i s t s
should be n o t i f i e d o f these laws. The laws should be reviewed
and r e v i s e d p e r i o d i c a l 1 y f o r maximum e f f ec t i veness .
531. Enforce s t a t e and Federal laws.
A l l Federal and S t a t e laws p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e p r o t e c t i o n
and conse rva t i on o f l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y should be used
t o f u r t h e r t h e recovery e f f o r t .
532. Eva luate success o f 1 aw enforcement.
Add i t i ona l o r more ex tens i ve e f f o r t s t o en fo r ce e x i s t i n g
laws p r o t e c t i n g t h e l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y may be needed.
P e r i o d i c eva lua t i ons w i l l p rov i de an assessment o f needed
m o d i f i c a t i o n s i n t h i s area.
533. Propose a p p r o p r i a t e new r e g u l a t i o n s o r r ev i s i ons .
Revis ions i n e x i s t i n g r e g u l a t i o n s may be necessary t o
enhance conserva t ion e f f o r t s o f t he l o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y .
I f r e v i s i o n s a r e n o t adequate t o f u r t h e r conserva t ion and
recovery goal s, new l e g i s l a t i o n may be proposed.
L i t e r a t u r e C i ted
Arnold, R. A. 1978. Survey and s t a t u s o f s i x endangered b u t t e r f l i e s i n
Cal i f o r n i a , 1977. Cal i f . Dept. of F i s h and Game, Nongame Wi l d l .
Inves t . Report. 95 pp.
Arnold, I?. A. 1980. Ecolog ica l s t ud ies o f 6 endangered b u t t e r f l i e s :
i s l a n d biogeography, patch dynamics, and t h e des ign o f na tu re
preserves. Ph.D. t hes i s , Univ. o f Ca l i f . , Berkeley. 365 pp.
Arnold, R. A. 1981a. A rev iew o f endangered species l e g i s l a t i o n i n t h e
U.S.A. and p r e l im ina ry research on 6 endangered Cal i f o r n i a
b u t t e r f l i es (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) . B i otop- und Artens hutz be i
Schmetter l ingen. G . Schmid (ed .). Pp. 79-96
Arnold, R. A. 1981b. Capt ive breeding o f t h e endangered Lange's
metalmark b u t t e r f l y , Apodemia mormo l ange i . F i na l r e p t . t o L1.S.
Fish and Wild. Service. 11 pp.
Barbour, M. G., and J. Wajor. 1977. T e r r e s t r i a l vege ta t i on of
C a l i f o r n i a . Pp. 306-307. Wi ley and Sons, Inc. New York.
dos Passos, C. F. 1964. A synonymic 1 i s t o f t h e n e a r c t i c Rhopalocera.
Lepid. Soc. Memoir No. 1. 145 pp.
Downey, J. C. 1975. Genus Plebejus Kluk. - I n W. H. Howe (ed. ) . The
b u t t e r f l i e s o f Nor th America. P. 337. Doubl eday and Co., Inc.,
Garden City, N.Y.
Howe, W. H. (ed.). 1975. The b u t t e r f l i e s o f Nor th America. Doubleday
and Co.,, Garden City, N.Y. 633 pp.
L i n t n e r . A. 1876. 30 th Rept. New York S t a t e Mus. Nat. H i s t . P. 169.
Munz, P. A. , and D. D. Keck. 1968. A C a l i f o r n i a f l o r a . Univ. of
Cal i f o r n i a Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp. +224 pp. suppl .
Nabokov, V. 1949. The n e a r c t i c members o f t h e genus Lycaeides.
Hubner (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) . B u l l . Mus . Comp. Zoo1 . Harvard 101:479-541.
Smith, J. P., Jr., R. J. Cole, J. 0. Sawyer, Jr., and W. R. Powell.
1980. I nven to ry o f r a r e and endangered vascu la r p l a n t s of
C a l i f o r n i a . C a l i f . Nat ive P lan t Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 1 (2nd
ed.). 115 pp.
T i lden , J. hf. 1965. B u t t e r f l i e s o f t h e San Franc isco Pay reg ion.
Univ. o f C a l i f . Press, Berkeley. 88 pp.
U.S. F i s h and W i l d l i f e Service. 1984. Recovery p lan f o r Palos Verdes
b l ue b u t t e r f l y (Gl aucopsyche lygdamus pa l osverdesensis). U. 5 . F ish
and W i l d l i f e Service. Por t land, OR. 46 pp.
Par t I 1 1
Imp1 ementat ion Schedule
The fo l l ow ing t a b l e i s a summary o f scheduled a c t i o n s and est imated
c o s t s f o r t h e L o t i s b l ue b u t t e r f l y recovery program. It i s a gu ide t o
meet t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f L o t i s Rlue B u t t e r f l y Recovery Plan, as
e labora ted i n Pa r t 11. Th is t a b l e i n d i c a t e s t h e general category f o r
implementat ion d u r a t i o n o f t h e tasks, which agencies a r e r espons ib l e
t o per form t h e tasks, and l a s t l y , t h e es t imated c o s t s t o accompl ish
these tasks. Implementing P a r t I 1 1 i s t h e a c t i o n o f t h e recovery p lan,
t h a t when accomplished, should b r i n g about t h e recovery o f t h i s
endangered speci es .
GENERAL CATEGORIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
I n f o r m a t i o n Gather ing - I o r R
Populat ion s t a t u s Habi t a t s t a t u s Hab i t a t requirements Management techniques Taxonomic s tud ies Demographic s tud ies Propagat ion M i g r a t i o n Predat ion Compet i t ion Disease Environmental contaminant Re in t roduc t ion Other i n f o r m a t i o n
A c q u i s i t i o n - A
1. Lease 2. Easement 3. Management
agreement 4. Exchange 5. Withdrawal 6. Fee T i t l e 7. Other
Wanagement - b! Other - 0
1. Propagat ion 1. I n f o rma t i on and 2. Re in t roduc t i on educat ion 3. H a b i t a t maintenance and man ipu la t i on 2. Law enforcement 4. Predator and compet i to r c o n t r o l 3. Regulat ions 5. k p r e d a t i o n c o n t r o l 4. Adm in i s t r a t i on 6. Disease c o n t r o l 7. Other management
RECOVERY ACTION PFIORITI ES
1 = An a c t i o n t h a t must be taken t o prevent e x t i n c t i o n o r t o prevent
t h e species f rom d e c l i n i n g i r r e v e r s i b l y .
2 = An a c t i o n t h a t must be taken t o prevent a s i g n i f i c a n t d e c l i n e i n
speci es popul a t i on /hab i t a t qua1 i ty, o r some o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t
nega t i ve impact s h o r t o f e x t i n c t i o n .
3 = A1 1 o t h e r ac t i ons necessary t o p rov ide f o r f u l l recovery o f t h e
species.
PART I I 1 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN
b r a t i o n ' Respons ib le Agency Est imated Costs Comments General Task P r i o r i t y o f Task FWS Othe r ($1.000) and Category P lan Task Number Number ( y r s . ) Region Program Agency FYI FY2 FY3 Notes
R3 I n v e s t i g a t e syneco logy o f 111 2 3 wet meadows, bog & f o r e s t .
R3 I n v e s t i g a t e an teco logy o f 112 2 3 l a r v a l & a d u l t food p l a n t s , once these a r e i d e n t i f i e d .
M 7 I d e n t i f y v e g e t a t i o n manage- 113 2 3 ment needs.
M3 M in im ize use o f i n s e c t i - 121 1 Cont inuous 1 SE 2 2 2 c i d e s and h e r b i c i d e s PC& E 2 2 2 nearby.
M3 M in im ize o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s 122 t h a t a r e i ncompa t i b l e w i t h v e g e t a t i o n and hab i t a t maintenance and management.
M 7 Develop, implement, r e v i s e 13 management s t r a t e g i e s .
R1 Study o t h e r Lycaefdes 141 argyrognomon races t o deve lop and t e s t m o n i t o r i n g methods f o r LBB.
R1 Survey known and p o t e n t i a l 142 h a b i t a t annua l l y .
1 Cont inuous CDFG* 1 1 1 PG&E 1 1 1
1 Cont inuous 1 S E 1 1 1 CDFC* 1 1 1
PART I I 1 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN
b r a t i o n ' Responsible Agency Estimated Costs Comments General Task P r i o r i t y o f Task FbIS Other ($1.000) and Cateqory Task Plan k m b e r Number (yrs.) Req i o n Program Agency FYI FY2 FY3 Notes
M7 Survey a d d i t i o n a l s i t e s 15 2 Continuous 1 S E 3 3 3 CDFG* 2 2 2
A3 Select h a b i t a t s i t e s . 2 1 2 1 SE 1
A3 Secure h a b i t a t s i t e s . 22 2 2 1 SE To Be Determined CDFG
M3 Remove e x o t i c f l o r a . fauna. 231 2 Continuous 1 S E* 1 1 1 CDFC 1 1 1
M3 I f needed, re in t roduce 232 2 Continuous 1 S E* To Pe Determined necessary b i 01 og i c a l CDFG To Be Petermined components o f LBB h a b i t a t as i d e n t i f i e d by eco log ica l studies.
V2 Ohtain LBB from 241 2 3 e x i s t i n g colony f o r r e i n t r o d u c t i o n and/or t o serve f o r hroodstock.
R7 Determine the necessi ty 2421 2 3 and f e a s i h i l i t y o f cap t i ve propagation.
To Pe Petermined
3 ? 3
W i l l r e q u i r e a d d i t i o n a l e f f o r t beyond FY-3.
Costs and schedul ing TBD fo l low ing f u r t h e r research.
I n i t i a t e d o n l y i f determined necessary. E f f o r t beyond FY-3 may be needed.
PART 111 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN
k r a t i o n 1 Responsible Agency Estimated Costs Comments General Task P r i o r i t y o f Task FWS Other ($1,000) and Category Task Plan Fhmber Number ( y r s . ) Region Program Agency FYI FY2 FY3 Notes
R7 Rear i n d i v i d u a l s o f 2422 2 3 1 SE surrogate Lycaeides argyrognomon su species t o r e f i n e r e a r i n g techniques before LBB cap t i ve breeding i s attempted.
R7 Devise an a r t i f i c i a l d i e t 2423 2 1 1 SE f o r e f f i c i e n t l a b r e a r i n g o f LRB.
R7 Rear the LBB from eggs 2424 2 2 1 SE l a i d by s tock captured a t the known co l ony.
R 13 Transplant i n d i v i d u a l s 25 2 3 1 S E o f surrogate C. argyrognomon subspecies t o r e f i n e techniques f o r es tab l i s h i n g new b u t t e r f l y populat ions .
M 5 Reintroduce LRP i n t o 2 6 2 3 secure hab i ta t .
To Be Determined
To Be Determined
PART I I 1 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN
b r a t i o n ' Respons ib le Agency Est imated Costs Comments General Task P r i o r i t y o f Task FWS Other ($1,000) and Category P lan Task Number Number ( y r s . ) Reg i o n Program Agency FYI FY2 FY3 Notes
R14 Determine l a r v a l and 3 1 2 2 1 S E 3 3 3 a d u l t f oodp lan ts . CDFG* 3 3 3
R14 Descr ibe LBB's egg, l a r v a l , 32 2 2 1 and pupal morphology.
R 1 Descr ibe t h e l i f e t a b l e , 33 2 2 1 sex r a t i o and p o p u l a t i o n s i z e o f LBB co lony.
R9 I d e n t i f y predators , 3 4 2 2 1 pa ras i t o i d s and l a r v a l symbi onts .
R 14 Descr ibe adul t behav io r . 35 2 2 1 mat ing , o v i p o s i t i o n , e t c .
R 3 Determine h a b i t a t 36 2 3 1 requ i rements and u t i l i z a t i o n .
CDFG 2 2
CDFG 3 3
CDFG 2 2
COFG 2 2
CDFG 2 2 2
R14 Decide i f more popula- 37 2 1 1 S E* l a t i o n s a r e necessary CDFG f o r recovery .
PART I 1 1 IMPLEMENTAT ION SCHEDULE
LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN
0 1 Provide audio-v isual 4 1 3 Continuous 1 SE programs f o r pub1 i c d isp lay.
0 1 Erect i n t e r p r e t i v e signs 42 3 1 1 s igns on s t a t e park lands.
CDPR 1
02 Enforce land use plans and 51 1 Continuous 1 ordinances t o p ro tec t LBB CDFG* 1 1 1 h a b i t a t . Mendocino 1 1 1
Co . 02 Monitor agency compliance 52 2 Continuous 1 S E 1 1 1
w i t h Sect ion 7 consul ta t ions concerning the L o t i s b l u e b u t t e r f l y .
0 2 Enforce a l l laws 53 1 2 Ongoing 1 L E .5 .5 .5
02 Evaluate success o f 532 2 Continuous 1 LE law enforcement
To Be Determined
PART 111 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
LOTIS BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY PLAN
General Category Task Plan
h r a t i o n l Responsible Agency Estimated Costs Task P r i o r i t y o f Task Other ($1,000) Nmber Number (yrs . ) Region Program Agency FYI FY2 FY3
Comments and Notes
02 Propose new regulat ions 533 2 Continuous 1 LE To be determined
Lead agency
'ongoing = The ac t i on i s now being implemented and w i l l continue on an annual basis.
Continuous = The ac t i on w i l l be implemented on an annual basis once the ac t i on i s begun.
Abbreviat ions SE = U.S. F ish and W i l d l i f e Service (Endangered Species) LE = U.S. Fish and W i l d l i f e Service (Law Enforcement)
CDFG = C a l i f o r n i a Department o f F ish and Game CCC = Ca l i f o rn i a Coastal Commission
PG&E = Pac i f i c Gas and E lec t r i c CDPR = Ca l i f o rn i a Department o f Parks and Recreation
PART IV
Appendix
Agencies Asked for Review Comments:
Director California Department of Fish and Game 1416 Ninth Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Pacific Gas and Electric 3400 Crow Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583
Mr. Michael Fischer California Coastal Commission 631 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105
Mr. Dan Garvin Mendocino County Planning Department Courthouse 880 North Bush Street Ukiah, CA 95482
California Department of Parks and Recreation 1416 Ninth Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Dr. Harry Ohlendorf C/O Wildlife and Fisheries Biology University of California Davis, CA 95616
