San Bruno elfen butterfly
Callophrys mossii bayensis
The San Bruno elfen butterfly, or Callophrys mossii bayensis...
Larvae of Callophyrs mossii bayensis
Adult Callophyrs mossii bayensis
Adult Callophyrs mossii bayensis
While the larvae only consume the leaves of it's host plant, Sedum spathulifolium (Stone Crop),
Sedum spathulifolium, the San Bruno elfin butterfly's host plant
Lomatium utriculatum, or hog fennel
Arctostaphylos montaraensis, another potential food source for the butterfly
The San Bruno elfin butterfly lays it's eggs on it's host plant during it's flight period between mid February and late April.
The San Bruno elfin butterfly inhabits the rocky north facing slopes of the San Francisco peninsula that it's host plant grows on
Counties In the San Francisco Bay Area
The main threat to the San Bruno elfin butterfly's population is habitat destruction...
Ken McIntire of San Bruno Mountain Watch speaking about habitat destruction on San Bruno Mountain as it affects local butterfly species, including the San Bruno Elfin Butterfly
While the San Mateo county parks department has a plan in place to try to preserve habitats on San Bruno Mountain,
Pictures used (in order) :
http://www.mountainwatch.org/butterflies-and-wildlife/
http://www.goert.ca/propagation_guidelines/forbs/sedum_spathulifolium
http://www.goert.ca/propagation_guidelines/forbs/lomatium_utriculatum
http://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/arctostaphylos-montaraensis
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Bruno_elfin_butterfly_egg_FWS_9878.jpg
Sources
"Arctostaphylos Montaraensis." Landscape Plants. Oregon State University, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.
"San Bruno Elfin Butterfly." Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.
"GOERT: Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team." GOERT : For Gardeners & Restoration Practitioners : Propagation Guidelines. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.
"The Xerces Society » Elfins: San Bruno Elfin (Callophrys Mossii Bayensis)."The Xerces Society » Elfins: San Bruno Elfin (Callophrys Mossii Bayensis). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.
"San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)." Parks Department. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.
"ENDANGERED BUTTERFLIES." San Bruno Mountain Watch. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.
"Visiting San Francisco." - Wikimedia Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.