Arkearth is focused on saving all pollinators. From bees to hummingbirds and bats to moths. And of course, the butterfly. It is one of the most cherished and beloved pollinators on the planet. They are also a fragile set of species with some of the most amazing life cycles and unique characteristics.
Often, we tend to think of the Monarch Butterfly first when it comes to endangered butterflies, but there are hundreds of species, and these are just five of the rarest!
Palos Verdes blue
Once thought extinct, this small, endangered butterfly is native to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California and is considered one of the rarest butterflies in the world. In 2020, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy released over a thousand Palos Verdes blue butterflies and caterpillars to help repopulate the species. They, along with the Navy, released more this past May. We hope to hear next year of the results from those projects working to save these beautiful pollinators.
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
This butterfly has a wingspan of up to 12 inches and is considered one of the world's rarest and largest butterflies found anywhere, but little is known about the species. It has only been found in Papua New Guinea and has a very small population, endangering it more because of its low genetic diversity. They’re known for their long and elaborate mating rituals. The biggest challenge they face is the Palm Oil industry which removes hundreds of acres of its habitat every year.
Schau's Swallowtail
This North American butterfly resembles common swallowtails you may see in your backyard, but this species is restricted to a few remaining sites in the northern Florida Keys and is the only federally listed swallowtail in the U.S. They have a special relationship with only two trees: Torchwood and Wild Lime. The larvae only eat leaves from these trees and the elimination of habitats along with stronger hurricanes are reducing their populations to near extinction. This year’s hurricane Helene could possibly make them totally extinct. The good news is that there is now a captive breeding program to bring their numbers back up and establish permanent habitats for them and other Floridian species.
Adonis Blue
This butterfly is the rarest of the UK's blue butterflies and has a symbiotic relationship with ants who protect it. It’s a very vivid blue, which can attract birds seeking a snack. Where the ants come in is rather amazing. It does this by secreting a sweet nectar that attracts the ants which then bury and protect it from birds and other predators in their underground beds.
The EU has taken several steps to protect the butterfly and provide habitats around the UK for its survival. The ants are happy about that too.
Learn more about each butterfly in the links above. Other rare butterflies include the Blue Morpho, Island Marble Butterfly, Kaiser-i-Hind, Heliconius charithonia / Zebra Longwing, Chimaera Birdwing, and Miami Blue Butterfly. More about those insects next time!
Each year, more species move from the endangered list to the extinction list, and we lose between a hundred and one thousand specific species every year. Arkearth is working in several ways to help save these pollinators along with increasing habitat options and even lifting crop yields in urban farms and community gardens to benefit local neighborhoods.
Please consider helping us with a small donation or shop in our online store and purchase your own pollination feature you can place in your yard, patio, or even a small balcony. Every action helps and we can only save pollinators by all taking action.
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