The Callippe silverspot butterfly is endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation from urbanization. It originally existed in 14 populations in the San Francisco Bay Area but now only inhabits two areas. Further threats include intensive agriculture, grassland farming, and invasive plant species that outcompete its host plants. Pesticide use also severely impacts the larvae. Possible solutions involve protecting remaining habitat, removing invasive plants, and taking precautions to prevent pesticide drift.

1. CALLIPPE SILVERSPOTTED
BUTTERFLY
BY REBECCA MARTINEZ
IMAGE: HTTP://WWW.ECSLTD.COM/CALLIPPE_SILVERSPOT.HTM

2. ABOUT THE CALLIPPE
SILVERSPOTTED BUTTERFLY
Scientific name: Speyeria callippe callippe
Relatively large, with wingspan of 4-6 centimeters
Mainly orange, tan, yellow, and brown colors with
intricate black spots and lines.
To mate, they perform hilltopping (males wait at the
top of hills for the females, where they mate).
They feed on violets and Johnny jump-ups

3. HABITAT LIMITATIONS
Originally existed in over 14
populations in the San Francisco
Bay Region, according to the
Wm. & Mary Environmental Law
and Policy Review
Now, only inhabits two known
areas (San Bruno mountains and
a city park in Alameda County).
They can only live in specific
habitats that have violets, Johnny
jump-ups, nectar plants, and http://baynature.org/articles/apr-jun-2002/butterflies-and-
hilltops. bulldozers-on-an-island-of-time/

4. CAUSES OF ENDANGERMENT
According to the Natural Community Species Accounts
by the Solano County Water Agency:
Urbanization and the construction of highways result in
direct habitat loss and fragmentation
The entire Oakland Hills are extirpated due to urbanization of
Sonoma, San Mateo, Alameda, and Solano counties, along with
sites scattered in the Oakland/Berkeley/Hayward hills.

5. Intensive agriculture such
as the development of
v i n ey a rd s i n S o l a n o
County. This potentially
causes both habitat loss
and pesticide drift
(Silverspot larvae are
extremely sensitive to
pesticides).
Although there has not
been any proven habitat
loss due to vineyards,
the excessive use of
pesticides has
threatened both the http://www.sanfranciscowinetours.com/
host plants (through the
soil) and the larvae.

6. Cultivated grassland and dryland farming cause the destruction
of larval host plants and adult nectar plants, and the direct
killing or larvae.
Non-native species such as iceplant (Carprobrotus spp.), gum
trees, (Eucalyptus spp.), and gorse (Ulex europaeus) out-compete
the native vegetation such as the host plants of the
Silverspotted butterfly.
http://www.danheller.com/
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/
images/California/Marin/ http://www.redlands.edu/
agriculture/pests-weeds/
RodeoBeach/Slideshow/ about-redlands/9333.aspx
weeds/profiles/gorse
img5.html

7. According to the Center for Biological Diversity:
Chemical contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals,
and other air pollutants can affect larval development,
which can lead to malfunctions, disease, and death.
Among the top pesticides used in SF county are
chlorpyrifos, isopropylamine salt glyphosate, and diazinon.
The larvae of all Speyeria are extremely sensitive to
pesticides, even if they are just used in the general vicinity.
Over 50 pesticides are used in the SF Bay area that affect
the Callippe butterflies, including chlorpyrifos and diazinon.

8. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Stop human use of the Callippe butterfly’s habitat
We have already protected the population in the San Bruno
mountains because of the San Bruno Mountains
Conservation Plan
The city park which the butterflies reside in could be
protected to prevent extirpation, but it would be harder due
to the surrounding pollution and human activity.

9. Remove non-native plant
species from the habitat
Plants such as the ice plant
can be uprooted from the
area. Some local groups and
organizations do this, but the
plant grows back too quickly
to effectively eliminate the
species.
This would protect the host
plants of Callippe such as
http://edcallaert.photoshelter.com/image/
the nectar plant, and the
I0000u4T6tEGG52w Johnny jump-ups

10. Removing the ice plant, however, could be dangerous
to the habitats (both the San Francisco region and
San Bruno mountains).
Ice plant in California was originally grown to
stabilize soil along railroad tracks and roads
Removing the ice plant could cause the ground to
be unstable, which is unsafe for humans and
animals, and could also cause landslides (which
would ruin habitats)

11. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, there
are six ways to prevent pesticide drift, which include:
Calibrating equipment to ensure proper application of the
product
Monitor weather and wind conditions and be ready to stop
pesticide application when warranted
Establish buffer strips around farm fields to protect
surrounding property
http://www.nitrogennews.com/
factsheet-farm-solutions/

12. WORK CITED
Cheever, F. , Butterflies, Cave Spiders, Milk-Vetch, Bunchgrass, Sedges, Lilies, Checker-mallows, and Why the
Prohibition Against Judicial Balancing of Harm Under the Endangered Species Act is a Good Idea, William and Mary
Environmental Law and Policy Review. 313, http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1277&context=wmelpr&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct
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%3D2%26ved%3D0CDUQFjAD%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fscholarship.law.wm.edu%252Fcgi
%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1277%2526context%253Dwmelpr%26ei%3D-w9MT878NqSFsAL9-r0Y
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%22callippe%20silverspot%20butterfly%20scholar%22
Howe, W.H., The Butterflies of North America. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, New York, 633 pp.
Unknown Author, California’s Endangered Species - Callippe Silverspot Butterfly, Essig Museum of Entomology,
http://essig.berkeley.edu/endins/callippe.htm
Unknown Author, Callippe Silverspot Butterfly, Natural Community and Species Accounts, http://www.scwa2.com/
Documents/hcp/Final%20Admin%20Draft/Appendix%20B/Inner%20Coast%20Range/Callippe%20Silverspot.pdf
Unknown Author, Six Precautions to Prevent Pesticide Drift, Illinois Department of Agriculture, http://
www.agr.state.il.us/newsrels/r0624021.html