The diminutive blue butterfly, called the Mt. Charleston blue butterfly, Plebejus shasta charlestonensis is one of the seven sub-species of the Shasta blue butterfly, Plebejus shasta, in the Lycaenidae family of butterflies. This family of butterflies ranges from the northwestern United States to southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, although only Plebejus shasta minnehaha is seen in Canada.
The Center for Biological Diversity said on Monday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to designate almost eight square miles (5,241 acres) in the Alpine elevations of the Spring Mountains as a critical habitat for the Mt. Charleston blue butterfly.
Tierra Curry, a scientist with the center thinks there are only around 100 of the gray and baby-blue butterflies left today. The butterfly was classified as endangered in 2013, but wildfires, habitat loss, and encroaching development have all contributed to its demise, according to Nevada Public Radio.
The Mt. Charleston Blue Butterfly feeds on host and nectar plants, including Torrey’s Milkvetch, Clokey Fleabane, mountain oxytrope and broad-keeled milkvetch. It also requires an open forest with little under-tree vegetation and exposed mineral soil — all vital to the survival of the species, and what the protected habitat will provide.
The acreage set aside for the butterfly won’t include the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, or other developments in the area. It also won’t halt all development in the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The protected habitat will add to the increased scrutiny surrounding the butterfly and other endangered and at risk species, and that is a plus for the butterfly’s protection.
