David James

Twenty-one of Washingtons ~150 species of butterflies are on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list. In common with most of our butterfly species, we know very little about the biology and ecology and threats to these 21 species. This project is aimed at supporting recovery actions for five of these SGCN butterflies in Washington, four of which are state candidate species (Yuma Skipper, Juniper Hairstreak, Meadow Fritillary, Silver-bordered Fritillary) and one recently federally listed threatened species (Monarch).

I have submitted a funding proposal for this project to the Wildlife Biodiversity Grant Program administered by the WDFW. If funded, this would allow me to conduct comprehensive field work on the distribution, abundance and biology of the five butterfly SGCN in my position as Entomology Professor at Washington State University, over the next three butterfly seasons. One of the priorities of WBA is to support and help with the conservation of Washingtons butterflies, so in the proposal I have indicated that the project will likely be enhanced by the volunteer efforts of WBA members.

WBAs contribution to this project will take the form of member participation in field trips specifically targeted to gain information and data on one of the butterfly SGCN. If you participate in one of these trips you will be making a practical contribution towards conserving these threatened species.

While I will not know until May if my proposal is successful, I plan to begin butterfly WBA-SGCN field trips in April by trying to locate the Juniper Hairstreak at Juniper Dunes north of the Tri-Cities. Juniper Dunes was formerly a stronghold for this species but it hasn’t been recorded from the site since 2009. You can find a profile of this species elsewhere in this issue of GNum.

A preliminary list of proposed SGCN field trips for the 2025 season is below. Dates are provisional and subject to change as determined by weather and progression of the season. Further dates may be added. If you are  interested in being involved with SGCN field trips and would like to be kept informed via email about upcoming trips, sign up with me (david_james@wsu.edu) and I will give you updates on trips and timing as we go through the season.

SGCN-WBA FIELD TRIPS 2025

1. April 25 or 26: Juniper Dunes (SGCN: Juniper Hairstreak– Columbia Basin Segregate)
2. May 9 or 10: Bickleton (SGCN: Juniper Hairstreak– Columbia Basin Segregate)
3. May 30 or 31: Rocky Ford, Upper Crab Creek (SGCN: Silver-bordered Fritillary)
4. June 16-19: Blue Mountains (SGCN: Meadow Fritillary)
5. June 27 or 28: Ferry County (SGCN: Meadow Fritillary)
6. July 19: Sun Lakes State Park (SGCN: Yuma Skipper)
7. August 8 or 9: Along Snake River from Pasco North (SGCN: Monarch)
8. August 15-16: Rocky Ford, Upper Crab Creek and/or Spiva Butte (SGCN: Silver-bordered Fritillary)
9. September 5-6: Along Snake River from Pasco North (SGCN: Monarch)

Gnum2025Vol26No1