Smith's Blue Butterfly
Euphilotes enoptes smithi
Photo: Joe Broberg
Introduction
Status
Ecological Requirements
RCIS Regions: Big Sur Coastline, Monterey Bay Coastline, Monterey Peninsula to Point Lobos (CDFW 2020)
RCIS Natural Communities: Coastal Scrub, Coastal Dune, Perennial Grassland, Mixed Chaparral (CDFW 2020)
All life stages dependent on host plants, seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium) and coast buckwheat (E. latifolium) (USFWS 1984, 2006).
Near-endemic to RCIS area (CDFW 2020; USFWS 1984)
Full species account available: California Natural Diversity Database, RareFind 5 (CDFW 2020) and Smith’s Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan (USFWS 1984)
RCIS Conservation Target: Highest (Federally listed, near-endemic to RCIS area, fragmented populations)
Associated Non-Focal Species
Range and Modeled Habitat
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
Smith’s blue butterfly (BLUE) is particularly vulnerable to stochastic weather events, which could lead to local extirpations that may negatively impact the species (USFWS 2006). Because of habitat fragmentation, the distance adults would have to travel to reach patches of host plants has likely increased in many areas, making it less likely that suitable habitat will be recolonized (USFWS 2006). Table 5‑28. summarizes the climate change exposure, spatial distribution, and vulnerability of mixed chaparral communities statewide, which could experience a 0 to 25 percent reduction in habitat suitability, and of perennial grassland, coastal scrub, and coastal dune communities statewide, which could experience a 25 to 75 percent reduction in habitat suitability.
Conservation Strategies
Smith's Blue Butterfly Goals, Objectives, and Actions
There are 21 proposed actions. For complete goals, objectives and actions explanations see the complete table of conservation strategies in the RCIS PDF.
Species Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Goal BLUE 1
Promote persistence of Smith’s blue butterfly populations in the RCIS area through protection, restoration, and the enhancement of habitat.Objective BLUE 1.2
Enhance occupied and suitable Smith’s blue butterfly habitat in the RCIS area. Measure progress towards achieving this objective in the area of habitat enhanced and occupied by Smith’s blue butterfly.Action BLUE 1.2.1
Improve habitat by the removal of non-native plants and replace with native plants, including the Smith’s blue butterfly host plants, seaside buckwheat and coast buckwheat (USFWS 1984, 2006). Hand or mechanical removal is preferred over chemicals means (e.g., herbicides) (USFWS 2020c).
Action BLUE 1.2.2
Protect or plant host plants in suitable habitat (USFWS 1984).
Action BLUE 1.2.3
Increasing law enforcement activity, such as a caretaker at known populations, where needed to promote compliance with regulations (USFWS 1984).
Action BLUE 1.2.4
Improve propagation methods and research for host plants, seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium) and coast buckwheat (E. latifolium).
Action BLUE 1.2.5
Implement conservation grazing following practices that can promote establishment and growth of seaside buckwheat and common buckwheat while reducing direct negative impacts on Smith’s blue butterfly (USFWS 2006).
Objective BLUE 1.3
Restore occupied and suitable Smith’s blue butterfly habitat in the RCIS area. Measure progress towards achieving this objective in the area of habitat restored and occupied by Smith’s blue butterfly.Action BLUE 1.3.1
Restore habitat by the removal of non-native plants and replace with native plants, including seaside buckwheat and/or coast buckwheat (USFWS 1984, 2006). Hand or mechanical removal is preferred over chemicals means (e.g., herbicides) (USFWS 2020c).
Regional Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Goal RC 1
Sustain resilient, connected natural communities for the full range of native species, habitats, and ecological functions in the RCIS area through the protection of large blocks of continuous habitat supporting sensitive species.Objective RC 1.1
Protect and preserve existing intact non-marine habitats and resources and allow for expansion of habitat by protecting suitable or occupied habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the number of acres of habitat and adjacent/associated acres protected.Action RC 1.1.1
Acquire parcels with suitable habitat through fee title purchase or conservation easement.
Action RC 1.1.2
Conduct surveys using eDNA and/or traditional survey methods in suitable or potentially suitable habitat to locate undocumented occurrences of focal species and other conservation elements and opportunities for habitat protection, enhancement, restoration, and creation (USFWS 2008).
Action RC 1.1.3
Create and sustain long-term funding for protected areas maintenance.
Action RC 1.1.4
Establish an incentive program for private landowners to protect occurrences and manage habitat.
Action RC 1.1.5
Protect populations from impacts from construction, vegetation management, and/or activities, including by surveying areas such as roads/trails and implementing species protection measures.
Objective RC 1.2
Enhance occupied and suitable habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by number of acres of habitat enhanced and/or occupied.Action RC 1.2.1
Manage current and future recreation access including off-road vehicles, biking, equestrian, foot traffic, and unleashed pets to reduce impacts and disturbance to sensitive species and habitats. Ensure recreation is compatible with suitable and future potentially suitable habitat and adjacent areas, and areas of known occurrences. Enforcement and fencing may be used to prevent illegal off-road vehicle use (USFWS 2010).
Action RC 1.2.10
Work with private landowners and stakeholders to research species biology, threats, populations, densities, and/or ranges.
Action RC 1.2.11
Create/enhance connections between ecologically required habitat types, such as between aquatic breeding and upland dispersal habitats.
Action RC 1.2.2
Control non-native invasive species from occupied and/or suitable habitat, and areas designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat throughout the RCIS area.
Action RC 1.2.3
Reduce/eliminate pesticide, rodenticide (especially first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides), and herbicide use, including for roadside vegetation removal projects as part of integrated pest management efforts in identified suitable habitat, and sensitive natural communities. Promote alternative pest reduction methods, such as promoting natural predator populations (Ventura County Public Works Agency 2017).
Action RC 1.2.4
Minimize impacts from native and non-native predator populations that have increased due to anthropogenic factors, including through educational outreach and trainings on how to safely coexist with native predators and predator removal programs where appropriate.
Action RC 1.2.5
Reduce anthropogenic impacts on habitat, including infrastructure construction and maintenance, inappropriate grazing, uncontrolled grazing, or overgrazing, off-road vehicles, foot traffic, fire suppression, recreational development and activities, non-native plants, and sand mining
Action RC 1.2.7
Manage grazing, including the installation of wildlife-friendly fencing, to ensure it is compatible with suitable and future potentially suitable habitat and adjacent areas, and areas of known occurrences. Grazing in sensitive natural communities, public lands should be reduced.
Action RC 1.2.8
Reduce trash dumping in areas with suitable and future potentially suitable habitat and adjacent areas, and areas of known occurrences.
Action RC 1.2.9
Enhance and restore native vegetation in occupied habitat and suitable but unoccupied habitat.