US Fish and Wildlife Service Gives Protected Status to Butterflies

[SeaBreeze]

US government gives protected status to butterflies...http://bismarcktribune.com/news/agn...cle_8b1338a4-5b02-11e4-8d08-bfb4e82e7628.html

Two species of North Dakota prairie butterflies have gained protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in a statement Thursday, said the Dakota skipper and the poweshiek, have been given the protection, which becomes effective Nov. 23.

The Dakota skipper will be listed as protected, a less stringent classification than the threatened status of the poweshiek.
Under the ESA, endangered species are plants and animals in danger of becoming extinct. Threatened species are those that may become endangered in the foreseeable future.

The service also published a rule for the Dakota skipper that exempts take of the species as a result of certain livestock ranching practices and specified trail and rights-of-way maintenance activities.

Found in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Canada, the Dakota skipper’s numbers have declined in almost 75 percent of the sites where it was previously found.

 

[Warrigal]

I keep telling people that if they want butterflies then they have to stop being mean to caterpillars.

 

[SifuPhil]

Darn - now I'll have to throw away my net and killing jar ...

 

[SeaBreeze]

I always step around the caterpillars, been seeing a lot of them lately.

 

[Davey Jones]

I always step around the caterpillars, been seeing a lot of them lately.

"STEP AROUND"...that sounds ike a new dance,care to share?

 

[SeaBreeze]

Some transformations here: http://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/510/B...s-Of-20-Different-Caterpillar-Transformations

 

[JustBonee]

Anyone, besides myself, have butterfly houses? ... I've got a couple of these .. entertaining!

 

[Davey Jones]

Anyone, besides myself, have butterfly houses? ... I've got a couple of these .. entertaining!

Is it just me thats trying to figure how the heck those butterflies get in through those slots? First time Ive ever seen one of those.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Very cool Bonnie, I never even saw on of those!

 

[QuickSilver]

Is it just me thats trying to figure how the heck those butterflies get in through those slots? First time Ive ever seen one of those.

Same thing with Bat houses.. How do they get in?

 

[JustBonee]

Same thing with Bat houses.. How do they get in?

Maybe like the butterflies ... flatten their wings and slide in. (Carefully )

 

[JustBonee]

Is it just me thats trying to figure how the heck those butterflies get in through those slots? First time Ive ever seen one of those.

They close their wings when they go inside, like they will do on a windy day when they look for crevices in trees to hide.
The slots are large enough to put a few leaves and twigs inside. Butterflies like nectar from flowers close by, and also a little water.