Speyeria zerene
Encyclopedia
Zerene Fritillary is a species of butterfly
found in the western portions of the United States
and Canada
.
, but their range is now limited to Oregon
. The best habitats for the butterflies are coastal salt spray meadows, montane meadows, and stabilized dunes. The grasslands provide larval host plants which are a very important component of their habitat.
Other programs that are being implemented to help the wild population include the regular mowing of meadows by private home owners, and especially habitat restoration
for properties owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. One of the most essential components of the Speyeria zerene habitat is the blue violet, or Viola adunca
; it is used for the food and shelter of the early stages of a larva's life. However, the blue violet is also threatened by invasive species
and the overgrowth of shrubs and trees in meadows. The facilities that have established breeding programs for the butterflies have also set up nurseries for the blue violets. These nurseries are mainly used to provide food for the larvae reared in these facilities, but some violets are also transported and planted in restoration sites.
). The larvae, which have spikes on their backs and are dark in color, emerge in the spring. The larvae grow in six stages of development (instars) and feed on the violet until it is time for the larvae to pupate, which they do on the violet. The pupae will remain there for approximately two weeks, until it emerges as a butterfly. The butterfly has a life expectancy of about three weeks. During this time the butterflies mate and feed solely on nectar. Females then lay eggs, and the life cycle starts again.
). When the adult emerges from their chrysalis it will solely feed on nectar of flowers. It feeds on a variety of plants including ones from the Asteraceae
family, its main source of nutrition, but other families of plants that the butterfly may feed on include thistles, asters, yarrow
, and pearly everlasting
.
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...
found in the western portions of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Description
The Speyeria zerene is a medium sized butterfly whose length ranges from 25–28 mm, and the wingspan is about 55 mm. The body of the butterfly is black with orange-brown on the upper side of the wings. Also on the underside are black veins with black spots. The undersides of the wings have silver metallic spots. The wings and the body are both covered in fine hairs.Species Range
The native range was spread from Washington state to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but their range is now limited to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The best habitats for the butterflies are coastal salt spray meadows, montane meadows, and stabilized dunes. The grasslands provide larval host plants which are a very important component of their habitat.
Conservation
In 1999, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service initiated a recovery plan for the Speyeria zerene. The recovery program helped establish breeding programs in several zoos and colleges that provide captive rearing for the Speyeria zerene. In late summer, female butterflies are captured after they have mated with a male and then transferred to a facility where they are induced into laying eggs. After the eggs hatch, the larvae are stored in a refigerator over winter in order to replicate the conditions of the season. After the winter dormancy, the larvae are fed and cared for until they pupate or are large enough to be returned to the wild.Other programs that are being implemented to help the wild population include the regular mowing of meadows by private home owners, and especially habitat restoration
Restoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
for properties owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. One of the most essential components of the Speyeria zerene habitat is the blue violet, or Viola adunca
Viola adunca
Viola adunca is a species of violet known by the common names hookedspur violet, sand violet, and western dog violet. It is native to North America, including the western half of the United States to New England northward throughout Canada.This is a hairy, compact plant growing from a small rhizome...
; it is used for the food and shelter of the early stages of a larva's life. However, the blue violet is also threatened by invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
and the overgrowth of shrubs and trees in meadows. The facilities that have established breeding programs for the butterflies have also set up nurseries for the blue violets. These nurseries are mainly used to provide food for the larvae reared in these facilities, but some violets are also transported and planted in restoration sites.
Life cycle
The life cycle of the Speyeria zerene begin when the pink-tan-colored eggs hatch. Females lay these egss on the died stems and debris o the blue violet (Viola aduncaViola adunca
Viola adunca is a species of violet known by the common names hookedspur violet, sand violet, and western dog violet. It is native to North America, including the western half of the United States to New England northward throughout Canada.This is a hairy, compact plant growing from a small rhizome...
). The larvae, which have spikes on their backs and are dark in color, emerge in the spring. The larvae grow in six stages of development (instars) and feed on the violet until it is time for the larvae to pupate, which they do on the violet. The pupae will remain there for approximately two weeks, until it emerges as a butterfly. The butterfly has a life expectancy of about three weeks. During this time the butterflies mate and feed solely on nectar. Females then lay eggs, and the life cycle starts again.
Diet
The diet of the Speyeria zerene varies throughout its life history. When the larva emerges in the spring the diet consists solely on the leaves of the blue violet (Viola aduncaViola adunca
Viola adunca is a species of violet known by the common names hookedspur violet, sand violet, and western dog violet. It is native to North America, including the western half of the United States to New England northward throughout Canada.This is a hairy, compact plant growing from a small rhizome...
). When the adult emerges from their chrysalis it will solely feed on nectar of flowers. It feeds on a variety of plants including ones from the Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
family, its main source of nutrition, but other families of plants that the butterfly may feed on include thistles, asters, yarrow
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium or yarrow is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. In New Mexico and southern Colorado, it is called plumajillo, or "little feather", for the shape of the leaves. In antiquity, yarrow was known as herbal militaris, for its use in...
, and pearly everlasting
Pearly everlasting
Anaphalis is a genus within the composite family whose members are commonly known by the name Pearly everlasting. There are around 110 species within the genus with the vast majority being native to central and southern Asia...
.