Quino Checkerspot Butterfly. (2019). Retrieved from https://essig.berkeley.edu/endangered/endangered_euphquin/
This article goes over the basic information of the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly. They are medium sized butterflies with brown red and yellow spots. They have long been very abundant creatures but in more recent years have faced serious declines in population almost entirely due to development of land. As their habitat is destroyed and invasive plants are introduced the population is decimated. They are dependent on a specific type of sage-scrub that is often being built over. Of the three large habitats remaining there are already plans in place to develop two of them. This does not bode well for the future of this species.
To me it is hard to believe that we can be so sure about what is killing these beautiful insects and continue doing that very same thing. The fact that we are developing these historic habitats just goes to show the disregard that our state holds for really protecting animals. Just like plants endangered insects often do not receive enough attention to their cause. Just because something is not cute and fuzzy doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be protected. This is the problem that the butterfly faces.
I agree with you that the blatant disregard for this endangered species is disappointing and frustrating. It seems like preserving areas of the sage-scrub would not be impossible. Maybe there could be a way to incorporate the plants that are being displaced in the buildings where development is going to happen. Are there any initiatives in action to help save this butterfly?
One important action is the raising of awareness. It is vital that the public begins an effort to prevent overdevelopment of the vital points of habitat.