‘Adult courtship area’.., I am thinking about this... the space to be free to court beauty, wellspring of creativity that gives birth to butterflies. I think we humans need this too. And, maybe if our society had the heart to honour this maybe we would embrace the butterflies 🙏🏻🦋
Thank goodness for you, Rebecca. I love these posts. Even though you are far away and talking about places far from home I care like it were my lands too. Home Earth of course. Did you read Wolfish by E Berry yet by the way? X
Nice article. Calling attention to the checkerboard patterns of land in the West is very helpful, as few people know about it.
Happy to see you writing about Behren’s silverspot butterfly too. I've read up on this topic before and as a lifelong lover of Lepitdoptera (who raised butterfly and moth caterpillars as a child), I'm glad to hear that efforts are being made to protect it. That being said, after reading the MLT press release and skimming the USFWS recovery plan, I have a point of concern, and a point of inquiry.
1) concern: "invasive" plant management.
It's true the butterfly needs the particular Violet as a larval host plant, but as you mentioned, the adults can nectar on other species. (The photo you included shows the butterfly on a Thistle that might be introduced, though there are native species of Thistles, too.) If an insect is so threatened, we should use a light hand in doing anything that will affect its well-being, including the removal of nectary plants simply on the basis of place of origin. I don't want to take the MLT press release too literally, but they mentioned removing introduced plants and *then* planting natives, which is a typical (and often ineffective) restoration strategy. It strikes me this should be the other way around. Plant natives, and only after they are demonstrably thriving enough to produce nectar for the adult butterflies, consider the removal of introduced species providing nectar. It could be that it will take longer for native plants to establish than is hoped, due to changes in the ecosystem by the disturbances (like cattle), changes that might not be readily apparent right now, such as differences in soil minerals and hydrology.
Regardless of the order of activity, there is additionally the factor that the overall health of the ecosystem for the butterfly will depend in part on the health of other species. Will the removal of introduced plant species put pressure on the endangered Violet, for example? Such as herbivores eating them more in the absence of other food? This kind of thing has happened in other places.
And what methodology for removal will be used? The most common method by far for removing introduced plant species is spraying herbicide. No matter what method is used, collateral damage to native plants is nearly impossible to avoid, unless the work is done by hand, very painstakingly. Unfortunately, human labor is more expensive than spraying, and most restoration grants pay for spraying but not human labor. Spraying is particularly dangerous as drift is not merely common but virtually unavoidable. According to the chapter “Pesticides, Environmental Pollution, and Health” in the book, "Environmental Health Risk—Hazardous Factors to Living Species" -- "only 1% of pesticide sprayed is delivered to the intended target." ( https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/50482 ) Perhaps the researchers were talking mostly about agricultural use, but anyone who has ever used a backpack sprayer (as I have) knows that it almost never hits *just* the thing you want it to, no matter how careful you are. If the nozzle is adjusted to a narrow spray, the force of the spray bounces some of the liquid off the target. If the nozzle is adjusted to a wider setting, more mist drifts. It's actually really tricky work.
Additionally, herbicides are bad for human health, and proper safety precautions are not always taken. Who are the people who will get this job, the one that's riskier? Will it be the lowest paid?
2) point of inquiry: maintaining the early successional landscape
As you noted, the USFWS describes the butterfly's habitat as "early successional," so what will be the method for keeping it at the early stage? The USFWS states: "While poor grazing management can denude vegetation and reduce habitat quality, light to moderate grazing can result in reduction of invasive woody plants and maintain early successional grassland habitats conducive to Behren’s silverspot butterfly use."
Hmm. I know the management plan is still being developed, but I hope it ends up being more than cattle.
The USFWS further details: "the Behren’s silverspot butterfly inhabits early successional grasslands that can rapidly be invaded by shrubs and trees." Here, "invaded by" merely describing the entry of shrubs and trees into the grasslands, and doesn't necessarily refer to introduced plants. Indeed, it's common for a landscape to go from early to middle successional by woody plants taking over from grasses, in totally native environments.
So, what historically kept this habit "early" prior to cattle grazing? A natural wildfire regime that has been suppressed? In which case, reintroducing it should be considered, especially over cattle. Or was cultural burning by indigenous people practiced in the area? In which case, the restoration project should be expanded to include their participation.
--
None of this is to rain on the parade. I'm super glad people care about Behren’s silverspot and are trying to do something. I am pointing these things out because I want to see the species thrive, and I'm also a believe in the precautionary principle.
Thanks again for writing about this important butterfly!
"Remember, each of those squares is a mile across. 640 acres. 259 hectares. Ouch."
Wow, I had no idea and it makes so much sense.
Pre-COVID, which simultaneously seems like last week and 20 years ago, I was backpacking in Oregon and ran into one of these squares. I couldn't figure it out, other than it obviously being human made. I remember trying to figure it out and unfortunately all Google gave me was like cropcircles and UFOs.
Thank you for this happy coincidence of solving one of my life's little mysteries.
wolves making a comeback 🥺🫶🏼❤️
‘Adult courtship area’.., I am thinking about this... the space to be free to court beauty, wellspring of creativity that gives birth to butterflies. I think we humans need this too. And, maybe if our society had the heart to honour this maybe we would embrace the butterflies 🙏🏻🦋
Thank goodness for you, Rebecca. I love these posts. Even though you are far away and talking about places far from home I care like it were my lands too. Home Earth of course. Did you read Wolfish by E Berry yet by the way? X
so good.
all of this.
will repost soonish.🌱
Nice article. Calling attention to the checkerboard patterns of land in the West is very helpful, as few people know about it.
Happy to see you writing about Behren’s silverspot butterfly too. I've read up on this topic before and as a lifelong lover of Lepitdoptera (who raised butterfly and moth caterpillars as a child), I'm glad to hear that efforts are being made to protect it. That being said, after reading the MLT press release and skimming the USFWS recovery plan, I have a point of concern, and a point of inquiry.
1) concern: "invasive" plant management.
It's true the butterfly needs the particular Violet as a larval host plant, but as you mentioned, the adults can nectar on other species. (The photo you included shows the butterfly on a Thistle that might be introduced, though there are native species of Thistles, too.) If an insect is so threatened, we should use a light hand in doing anything that will affect its well-being, including the removal of nectary plants simply on the basis of place of origin. I don't want to take the MLT press release too literally, but they mentioned removing introduced plants and *then* planting natives, which is a typical (and often ineffective) restoration strategy. It strikes me this should be the other way around. Plant natives, and only after they are demonstrably thriving enough to produce nectar for the adult butterflies, consider the removal of introduced species providing nectar. It could be that it will take longer for native plants to establish than is hoped, due to changes in the ecosystem by the disturbances (like cattle), changes that might not be readily apparent right now, such as differences in soil minerals and hydrology.
Regardless of the order of activity, there is additionally the factor that the overall health of the ecosystem for the butterfly will depend in part on the health of other species. Will the removal of introduced plant species put pressure on the endangered Violet, for example? Such as herbivores eating them more in the absence of other food? This kind of thing has happened in other places.
And what methodology for removal will be used? The most common method by far for removing introduced plant species is spraying herbicide. No matter what method is used, collateral damage to native plants is nearly impossible to avoid, unless the work is done by hand, very painstakingly. Unfortunately, human labor is more expensive than spraying, and most restoration grants pay for spraying but not human labor. Spraying is particularly dangerous as drift is not merely common but virtually unavoidable. According to the chapter “Pesticides, Environmental Pollution, and Health” in the book, "Environmental Health Risk—Hazardous Factors to Living Species" -- "only 1% of pesticide sprayed is delivered to the intended target." ( https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/50482 ) Perhaps the researchers were talking mostly about agricultural use, but anyone who has ever used a backpack sprayer (as I have) knows that it almost never hits *just* the thing you want it to, no matter how careful you are. If the nozzle is adjusted to a narrow spray, the force of the spray bounces some of the liquid off the target. If the nozzle is adjusted to a wider setting, more mist drifts. It's actually really tricky work.
Additionally, herbicides are bad for human health, and proper safety precautions are not always taken. Who are the people who will get this job, the one that's riskier? Will it be the lowest paid?
2) point of inquiry: maintaining the early successional landscape
As you noted, the USFWS describes the butterfly's habitat as "early successional," so what will be the method for keeping it at the early stage? The USFWS states: "While poor grazing management can denude vegetation and reduce habitat quality, light to moderate grazing can result in reduction of invasive woody plants and maintain early successional grassland habitats conducive to Behren’s silverspot butterfly use."
Hmm. I know the management plan is still being developed, but I hope it ends up being more than cattle.
The USFWS further details: "the Behren’s silverspot butterfly inhabits early successional grasslands that can rapidly be invaded by shrubs and trees." Here, "invaded by" merely describing the entry of shrubs and trees into the grasslands, and doesn't necessarily refer to introduced plants. Indeed, it's common for a landscape to go from early to middle successional by woody plants taking over from grasses, in totally native environments.
So, what historically kept this habit "early" prior to cattle grazing? A natural wildfire regime that has been suppressed? In which case, reintroducing it should be considered, especially over cattle. Or was cultural burning by indigenous people practiced in the area? In which case, the restoration project should be expanded to include their participation.
--
None of this is to rain on the parade. I'm super glad people care about Behren’s silverspot and are trying to do something. I am pointing these things out because I want to see the species thrive, and I'm also a believe in the precautionary principle.
Thanks again for writing about this important butterfly!
phenomenal journalism .. Outsanding.. & right up my alley of serious interest & attention !
Thanks for linking to my post. I'm glad you found it helpful!
"Remember, each of those squares is a mile across. 640 acres. 259 hectares. Ouch."
Wow, I had no idea and it makes so much sense.
Pre-COVID, which simultaneously seems like last week and 20 years ago, I was backpacking in Oregon and ran into one of these squares. I couldn't figure it out, other than it obviously being human made. I remember trying to figure it out and unfortunately all Google gave me was like cropcircles and UFOs.
Thank you for this happy coincidence of solving one of my life's little mysteries.