Butterfly Extinction

Many butterfly species are currently imperiled, threatened or endangered. The end result of dwindling populations, if no action is taken to assist a population or if a population cannot recover is that the species will become extinct. Sadly, extinction is forever.

At current, more than 20 species of butterflies and moths are federally listed as endangered in the United States. An endangered species is considered to be in danger of extinction in all or a large part of its range. 50 North American species of butterfly and moth are currently considered at risk of extinction by the Xerxes Society.

As of May, 2011 the Imperiled Butterflies of Florida Work Group considers the Florida Zestos Skipper (Epargyreus zestos oberon) and the Rockland Meske’s Skipper (Hesperia meskei pinocayo) to be extinct (Minno and Minno 2009, 2010). The loss of these species represents the first known extinction of butterflies in Florida. Sadly, several other species and subspecies of butterfly are in such drastic population decline that, without management, they are likely to become extinct.

The large and showy Jamaican Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Pterourus homerus) is found only in two small populations on the island of Jamaica. The Madeira Brimstone, found only on the island of Madeira,(Gonepteryx madeirensis) is in grave danger from habitat loss. Wallace's Golden Birdwing (Ornithoptera croesus) of Maluku is threatened by habitat destruction and widespread use of pesticides meant to control mosquitoes.

Of the 435 species of butterflies in Europe, 1/3 of those species are experiencing a population decline. The Mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo) was once abundant in Sweden and Finland but now is often found only in a single valley in the Alps.

Also facing threat of extinction is the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae). Found only in 100 square kilometers of costal Papua New Guinea, this largest species of butterfly in the world has a wingspan over 12 inches. The eruption of Mount Lamington in the 1950’s destroyed a large portion of the butterfly’s habitat and remaining habitat is regularly converted to palm oil plantations which do not support a suite of species needed to keep this butterfly alive. Remaining butterflies face capture in the wild as part of the illegal trade in specimens of endangered animals around the world.

Butterflies Considered Extinct

The following species of butterflies are currently considered to be extinct. Small populations of these species could, in theory, remain but these species are no longer observed in the wild. Some 120 species and 5 subspecies of insects are believed to have gone globally extinct in recent times.

• Mbashe River Buff (Deloneura immaculata) – South Africa
• Xerces Blue (Glaucopsyche xerces) – USA
• Morant's Blue (Lepidochrysops hypopolia) – South Africa
• British Large Copper (Lycaena dispar dispar)– subspecies of Large Copper – UK
• British Large Blue (Maculinea arion eutyphron)– subspecies of Large Blue – UK
• French Scarce Large Blue (Maculinea teleius burdigalensis) – subspecies of Scarce Large Blue – France
• Massey's Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus masseyi) – subspecies of Silver-studded Blue – UK
• Antigua Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas antiquus) – Antigua
• Madeiran Large White (Pieris brassicae wollastoni) – Madiera
• Dutch Alcon Blue (Phengaris alcon arenaria) – Netherlands
• Atossa Fritillary (Speyeria adiaste atsaos) – USA
• Strohbeen's Parnassian (Parnassius clodius strohbeeni) - USA
• Florida Zestos Skipper (Epargyreus zestos oberon) - USA
  
• Rockland Meske’s Skipper (Hesperia meskei pinocayo)- USA
  

Learn More

Wired magazine posted a gallery of endangered butterflies in 2009. Take a look at pictures of some beautiful butterfly species on the brink of extinction.

Named for the Xerxes Blue, the Xerces Society works worldwide to reverse the declining trends of native pollinators and help bolster populations through land management and conservation.

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) works to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Red List of Threatened Species International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses the conservation status of species on a global scale in order to highlight species threatened with extinction and therefore promote their conservation. IUCN currently is tracking populations of some 120 species of butterflies worldwide.

Endangered Species International is committed to reversing the trend of human-induced species extinction, saving endangered animals, and preserving wild places.