Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas Editha Quino) by Jackie Campos

Description and Ecology:

http://bhcourier.com/196426/

• The adult Quino Checkerspot Butterfly has a wingspan of 4cm
• The top sides of the wings have black, red, and cream colored spot pattern
• The bottom sides have a checkered red and cream pattern
• The abdomen has red stripes across the top.
• Before first molt larvae have mostly yellow coloration 
• Before second molt they turn grey with black markings
• After second molt, larvae can be recognized by the dark-black coloration and row of 8 to 9 orange tubercles (fleshy/hairy extensions)
• Quino Checkerspot has four main life stages: egg, larvae (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult
• The larval stage is divided into 5-7 instars (periods between molts, or shedding skin)
• Normally one generation of adults per year, larvae may remain in diapause for years prior to maturation 
• Are cold-blooded animals, therefore need external heat source to increase metabolic rate 
• Adult butterflies frequently stay in sunny areas to increase body temperature to level required 

Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Life Cycle Diagram 

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/030917.pdf

Geographic and Population Changes:

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=I00P

• The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly was historically distributed throughout the Southern California Coast, including Los Angeles, Orange, western Riverside, and southwest San Bernardino Counties, northern Baja Cali, Mexico.
• By mid-1980's the species was believed to have disappeared from all remaining locations until discovery of populations in Riverside county, San Diego county, and northern Baja California.
• Regions include:
• Northwest Riverside County Habitat Region
• Southwest Riverside County Habitat Region 
• South Riverside/North San Diego County Habitat Region
• Southwest San Diego Habitat Region
• Southeast San Diego Habitat Region 
• Baja California, Mexico 

Listing Date and Type of Listing:

The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly was listed on January 1, 1997 as an endangered species.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats to Existence:

1. Loss and Fragmentation of Habitat and Landscape Connectivity:

Over 95% of the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly's historic habitat are has been lost due to habitat degradation or destruction. Mesa tops, the species preferred habitat, have been destroyed and are  threatened by reconstruction development and the impacts it has on nearby undeveloped areas. 

2. Invasive Nonnative Plants:

The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly's habitat is invaded and dominated in many areas of the species range by nonnative yearly grasses and forbs. When fires and other disturbances occur, nonnative plants quickly invade the butterfly's habitat and cause the Plantago erecta to flee. The Plantago erecta also do poorly with nonnative grasses. Based on previous observations, it has been discovered that the invasion of nonnative plants, and the conversion from local plants to foreign grass will be the greatest threat to Quino Checkerspot Butterfly. 

3. Off-road Vehicle Activity:

Off-road vehicles are any vehicle that is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel roads. The Quino Checkerspot butterfly are threatened in many of their habitats by the frequent use of off-road vehicles. Due to the growing urbanization in the areas near the butterfly's habitat, there is less undeveloped land which cars can use for off-road activities. This causes the off roading to increasingly occur in the butterfly's habitat and create negative effects. Off-roading causes soil to compact, ruins host plants, increases wildfire activity, creates paths that lead to nonnative plant growth, and harms egg and larvae. 

4. Grazing:

Grazing is the process of herbivores consuming plants and grasses in an area. Grazing impacts are different depending on the type of species that is grazing, timing of occurrence, intensity, and the overall duration of grazing. The common impacts of grazing include destruction on larval host plant, compacting of soil, and the trampling of egg and larval. Sheep and goat grazing is more detrimental than cattle grazing, and it makes the survival of Quino Checkerspot Butterfly almost impossible.  

5. Fire:

The increase of fire frequency in California leads to a decline in plant community which poses a threat to the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly. Causes of more frequent fires include: increased human populations, habitat fragmentation, and transportation carriers that enable flammable nonnative plants to enter non-developed lands. Shorter fire intervals (5 years or less) cause shrubs to convert into grassland which then results in a greater invasion of nonnative plants. Overall effects of fire on the butterfly depend on fire intensity, frequency, and season in which fires occur. Since the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly distributions are very fragmented and restricted, fire could permanently destroy local populations in isolated habitat patches.  

6. Enhanced Soil Nitrogen

Soil fertility is another factor that influences invasive nonnative plants; invasive species are better competitors for soil nutrients than native plant species. Excess nitrogen is fertilizing soil in areas of urbanization and agriculture because of human activities. Experiments of nitrogen in soil have been done and they suggest that rate of loss and degradation of the butterfly will continue, and may increase in areas of high nitrogen exposure. Nitrogen emissions coming from sources in Mexico could potentially threaten the Quino Checkerspot populations nearby. 

7. Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration

The increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide has direct effects on the vegetation and indirect effects on insects. Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have risen, and continue to rise over time. Carbon dioxide increases plant growth and photosynthesis rates; the increased plant photosynthesis will likely lead to increased reduction of the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly preferred habitat. 

8. Climate Change

There is evidence that local climate change creates a corresponding change in the Quino Checkerspot butterfly's distribution which shows that climate change is a substantial threat to their survival in the future. Local warming in Southern California caused by climate change is suspected to be contributing to the uneven losses in the butterfly's population.

Description of Recovery Plan:

                                                                   Recovery Units

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/030917.pd

The recovery of the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly depends on the following factors: protection, restoration, and management of the habitat within the distribution of meta-populations. 

1. Permanently protect the the main areas of habitat and their occurrence complexes. Occurrence complexes are areas that are estimated to be occupied by butterflies based on recent sightings.
2. Conduct research in order to determine both current shirt-term and possible long-term dispersal of populations, along with associated habitats. 
3. Permanently contribute for and execute management of occurrence complexes in order to restore habitat quality and population.
4. The occurrence complexes populations that have been protected and managed must show evidence of resilience and progression. Evidence of resilience is shown if there is a decrease in number of occupied habitat patches over 10 to 20 years. 
5. An additional population should be introduced within the Lake Matthews population site (formerly occupied, but not known to be currently occupied) located in Northwest Riverside Recovery Unit. 
6. Create and maintain a breeding program for the purpose of maintenance of refugia populations, research, and reintroduction of wild populations. 
7. Initiate and execute a cooperative outreach program targeting areas in which the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly are located in western Riverside and southern San Diego Counties. 

Total Estimated Cost to Meet Recovery Objectives: 

$140,990,000 + any additional costs that cannot be predetermined.

Date of Recovery: The down-listing could be initiated 2018 or sooner, if criteria are met.

What Can You Do?

• In order to help restore Quino Checkerspot Butterfly populations people must not partake in any type of off-roading activity in any areas in which a butterfly has been sighted. People should also change the way they live their everyday lives in order to reduce their personal impact on climate change.

Other Resources:

• Additional information on Quino Checkerspot Butterfly's population recovery plan and progression.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/zoo/sd-me-quino-checkerspot-20170331-story.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/07/endangered-butterfly-species-defies-climate-change-quino-checkerspot

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SSFL_FEIS_AppendixF.pdf

https://consbio.org/newsroom/news/quino-checkerspot-butterfly-recovery

References Cited:

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Species Profile for Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas Editha Quino (=e. e. Wrighti)), ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=I00P.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Recovery Plan for the Quino Checkerspot
Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino). Portland, Oregon. x + 179 pp. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. 5 Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Carlsbad, California.