Palos Verde Blue Butterfly Recovery Program

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Butterfly Once Feared Extinct Discovered at Military Site

Location: Far West Region: California

Project Summary: The Defense Support Center is working with partners, on its lands, to enhance the only known population of Palos Verdes blue butterflies, and to restore it elsewhere.

The endangered Palos Verdes blue butterflies mate and lay eggs in these screen cages, which are placed over deerweed plants. (Photo by Travis Longcore)

Resource Challenge

The Palos Verdes blue butterfly, which lives in association with just one species of locoweed found in coastal shrub ecosystems, was listed as endangered by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in 1980. Habitat losses due to urban development, invasive non-native plants, and offroad vehicles were the primary culprits. Within a few years, most experts considered the butterfl y extinct. Then, in March 1994, a researcher from UCLA accidentally discovered the butterfly at the Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) in San Pedro, California. It remains the only known population.

Because the DFSP is a heavily used industrial facility, and because of the butterfly’s precarious status, the Defense Energy Support Center/Defense Logistics Agency military facility is collaborating with other federal agencies, the California state government, the California University system, and numerous non-government organizations to protect the existing population, increase the number of butterflies, and, ultimately, to help restore them throughout their former range.

Examples of Key Partners

U.S. Navy, San Diego; USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, DOD Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Energy Support Center, California State Government, California University system, the Urban Wildlands Group.

Results and Accomplishments

Thanks to the dedication of many, the butterfly’s population has doubled since its original discovery in 1994. The Soil Ecology Restoration Group, San Diego State University, California provides restoration and habitat management expertise for the project. Key accomplishments include:

• Established a butterfl y captive breeding program with guidance from the Urban Wildlands Group.

• Initiated population monitoring and a periodic census.

• Implementing a plan to restore ten acres of native plant communities; The Palos Verdes Land Conservancy maintains the

butterfly habitat and is managing a plant nursery.

The project’s ultimate goal is to replicate the DFSP habitat in other areas and to successfully introduce the butterfly to new sites.

Innovation/Highlight

Successfully doubled the last known remaining population of Palos Verdes Butterflies.

Project Contact

Mr. Dan Ryan
Stewardship Director
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

310-541-7613 x 203
dryan@pvplc.org

Dr. Danielle Flynn
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest

619-532-1850
danielle.flynn@navy.mil

Website:

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