Fighting to save the Colorado Silverspot Butterfly with Butterfly Pavilion
April 13, 2024 · Blog
Shiran Hershcovich, Lepidopterist Manager and Rich Reading, Ph.D, VP of Science and Conservation share about importance of butterflies, invertebrates, community science opportunities, and new partnership with Colorado State University.
The following is an excerpt of the full article. To read the full article, please visit gazette.com, or click the button at the bottom of the page.
In the meadows of southern Colorado, a new life begins.
Under the leaf of a bog violet, near shallow groundwater, a butterfly flutters her brown wings and lays her eggs. The underside of her wings are lined with silvery-white spots, an ode to the species’ name. After about two weeks, the cooling October air welcomes the new hatchlings. For now, it is time for them to rest for winter.The silverspot butterfly, native to southwest Colorado, has been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. With its new classification, Colorado scientists are hoping to protect the creature’s habitats — and ultimately preserve the species as a whole.
“It is quite rare for invertebrates to be listed, even though they make up the majority of known animal life on Earth,” said entomologist Shiran Hershcovich, the lepidopterist manager at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. “They have not been traditionally given as much research efforts or research funding, so this is a monumental decision that gives a little more visibility to these butterflies.”
The threatened status, Hershcovich said, is a way to say that while the butterfly is not in immediate danger of extinction or full loss, things are not looking great for it. From the impact of climate change to development and improper livestock grazing, here’s what to know about the silverspot butterfly.
Read the Full Article on Gazette.com
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