Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly
Encyclopedia
The Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly (Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana) is a butterfly
of the gossamer winged
variety that is only found around the Sand Mountain Recreation Area
near Fallon, Nevada
. This species is one of several belonging to the "Blue" subfamily
of Lycaenidae.
; eating the fallen leaves of the plant as larvae, and drinking the nectar of the flowers as adults - however, the adults occasionally feed on other plant species. Like many gossamer winged butterflies, Sand Mountain Blues have a close relationship with ant
s; in this case, desert carpenter ant
s feed off a sugary secretion of the larvae - if the larvae also benefit or not
is yet to be determined. Once the larvae metamorphose
into the pupal stage, rather than remain fixed to buckwheat plant, the chrysalis drops into the leaf litter at the base. Upon reaching adulthood, E. pallescens arenamontana typically measure anywhere between 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) and 11.9 mm (0.468503937007874 in). The species is not known to migrate, and in fact stays within 200 ft (61 m) of its host plant. The lifespan of an adult Sand Mountain Blue is approximately one week.
of the Sand Mountain Blue and if it should be placed on the endangered
or threatened species
lists. Currently, the Sand Mountain Blues are referred to as "rare
" because of their small geographical distribution
around the Sand Mountain dune. In March of 2007, several off-road vehicle
trails were closed off in order to protect the species and its host plant from intrusion.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the gossamer winged
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
variety that is only found around the Sand Mountain Recreation Area
Sand Mountain (Nevada)
Sand Mountain is a Singing sand dune east of Fallon, Nevada along U.S. Route 50. The dune is two miles long and high.It lies on the edge of the ancient Lake Lahontan, that for the most part dried up 9,000 years ago. Sand Mountain Recreation Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is...
near Fallon, Nevada
Fallon, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,536 people, 3,004 households, and 1,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,474.1 people per square mile . There were 3,336 housing units at an average density of 1,095.2 per square mile...
. This species is one of several belonging to the "Blue" subfamily
Polyommatinae
Polyommatinae, the blues, are a subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies . It was long used to assign taxa of unclear relationships, and its contents are in need of revision...
of Lycaenidae.
Biological characteristics
These butterflies are known for their almost complete dependence upon Kearney BuckwheatEriogonum
Eriogonum is the scientific name for a genus of flowering plants, in the family Polygonaceae. The genus is found in North America and is known as wild buckwheat. This is a highly species-rich genus, and indications are that active speciation is continuing...
; eating the fallen leaves of the plant as larvae, and drinking the nectar of the flowers as adults - however, the adults occasionally feed on other plant species. Like many gossamer winged butterflies, Sand Mountain Blues have a close relationship with ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s; in this case, desert carpenter ant
Carpenter ant
Carpenter ants are large ants indigenous to many parts of the world. They prefer dead, damp wood in which to build nests. They do not eat it, however, unlike termites. Sometimes carpenter ants will hollow out sections of trees. The most likely species to be infesting a house in the United States...
s feed off a sugary secretion of the larvae - if the larvae also benefit or not
Commensalism
In ecology, commensalism is a class of relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits but the other is neutral...
is yet to be determined. Once the larvae metamorphose
Métamorphose
"Métamorphose" - a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 1989 by Carrere Records.- Song information :"Métamorphose" was the first single from Amanda's French-Italian album Tant qu'il y aura des hommes. The album was actually a re-release of Uomini più uomini, and consisted mostly of down-...
into the pupal stage, rather than remain fixed to buckwheat plant, the chrysalis drops into the leaf litter at the base. Upon reaching adulthood, E. pallescens arenamontana typically measure anywhere between 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) and 11.9 mm (0.468503937007874 in). The species is not known to migrate, and in fact stays within 200 ft (61 m) of its host plant. The lifespan of an adult Sand Mountain Blue is approximately one week.
Status
The Sand Mountain Blue species, E. pallescens has been officially classified as being vulnerable while the subspecies p. arenamontana has been labeled as critically imperiled at great risk of extinction. In 2004 a petition was filed to investigate the statusConservation status
The conservation status of a group of organisms indicates whether the group is still extant and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future...
of the Sand Mountain Blue and if it should be placed on the endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
or threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
lists. Currently, the Sand Mountain Blues are referred to as "rare
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
" because of their small geographical distribution
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
around the Sand Mountain dune. In March of 2007, several off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
trails were closed off in order to protect the species and its host plant from intrusion.