Post by sebbe67 on Feb 28, 2005 22:19:07 GMT
Little is known about this butterfly and it is extinct. It is only known from a few sites near Mendocino on California's north coast. The lotis blue is thought to have been restricted to a rare coastal bog type of habitat, and the cause of its decline is not fully understood. Climatic factors or a change in land management practices since the arrival of Europeans to California may have affected the butterfly. Drought may have also been a factor. Droughts in the late 1970s caused severe declines in populations of seaside bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus formosissimus), the plant thought to have been the larval host of this butterfly.
The lotis blue, Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis, is one of 11 subspecies of L. argyrognomon described in North America. The lotis blue is morphologically distinguished from other subspecies by its size, wing color, and maculation pattern. With a typical wingspan of slightly less than 2.5 cm (within a range of about 1.5 to 3.2 cm), the lotis blue butterfly exhibits one of the largest wingspans of any Nearctic race of L. argyrognomon. The dorsal surface of the wing is a deep violet-blue in the male with a crenulate black border and fringe of white scales along the outer wing margin. In the female, the dorsal wing surface is brown, sometimes bluish-brown, with a wavy band of orange across the subtermen of the fore and hind wings.
Life History
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The butterfly was known to associate with coastal bog habitat and the last known location was at a sphagnum bog surrounded by a closed-cone pine forest, dominated primarily by bishop pine (Pinus muricata). Nothing is known for certain about food habits of the lotis blue butterfly, as the larval host plant is not confirmed, but evidence suggests that it was the seaside bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus formosissimus).
Distribution
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Historically the lotus blue butterfly has been found in several coastal localities in wet meadows and sphagnum-willow bogs. The last population known was in Mendocino County, CA.
Conservation Status
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The last comprehensive survey of the known historical sites was completed in 1990. The lotis blue butterfly was last observed in 1994. Localized surveys conducted in 2000 did not find the lotis blue or its host plants at the last observed location.
The lotis blue, Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis, is one of 11 subspecies of L. argyrognomon described in North America. The lotis blue is morphologically distinguished from other subspecies by its size, wing color, and maculation pattern. With a typical wingspan of slightly less than 2.5 cm (within a range of about 1.5 to 3.2 cm), the lotis blue butterfly exhibits one of the largest wingspans of any Nearctic race of L. argyrognomon. The dorsal surface of the wing is a deep violet-blue in the male with a crenulate black border and fringe of white scales along the outer wing margin. In the female, the dorsal wing surface is brown, sometimes bluish-brown, with a wavy band of orange across the subtermen of the fore and hind wings.
Life History
back to top
The butterfly was known to associate with coastal bog habitat and the last known location was at a sphagnum bog surrounded by a closed-cone pine forest, dominated primarily by bishop pine (Pinus muricata). Nothing is known for certain about food habits of the lotis blue butterfly, as the larval host plant is not confirmed, but evidence suggests that it was the seaside bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus formosissimus).
Distribution
back to top
Historically the lotus blue butterfly has been found in several coastal localities in wet meadows and sphagnum-willow bogs. The last population known was in Mendocino County, CA.
Conservation Status
back to top
The last comprehensive survey of the known historical sites was completed in 1990. The lotis blue butterfly was last observed in 1994. Localized surveys conducted in 2000 did not find the lotis blue or its host plants at the last observed location.
