Botorff J. Hinchliff

Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Speyeria zerene hippolyta This medium-sized, brown-and-orange butterfly has been extirpated from Washington. The coastal salt-spray meadows and open fields where the larval host plant once flourished have been overgrown with grasses, shrubs, and trees. The invading vegetation has crowded out stands of early blue violet, the essential food plant of silverspot larvae. To help bring back the Oregon silverspot, critical habitat has been acquired and a Wildlife Diversity biologist has established a violet nursery. Plants from the nursery will, during the next few years, be transplanted to coastal sites. Butterflies may be reintroduced when suitable meadow habitat has been restored. Meanwhile, potential habitat is being inventoried and monitored. Where violets persist, landowners are encouraged to adopt mowing schedules to keep grasses and woody vegetation at bay.