wild release doesn't work?

[John V. Calhoun]

Pavulaan at aol.com wrote:

> Eumaeus atala was once believed to be extirpated from southern Florida, in the
 > early 60's, I believe.
 > Anybody down there have an update, or wish to expand on this?

 Harry;
 
You are basically correct.  It was actually thought to have been
extirpated in Florida in the 1930's.  It was subsequently rediscovered
near Miami in 1959 by a collector vacationing from New Jersey.  The late
George Rawson, who at the time lived in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, heard
of the capture and became interested in a program to introduce the
species into additional sites, particularly in Everglades National Park.
Rawson reared individuals at home from stock obtained at the original
colony site.  In 1960, the first pupae were shipped to a contact at ENP.
The resulting adults were liberated.  Unfortunately, that September, the
infamous Hurricane Donna swept through the Everglades and apparently
destroyed these efforts.  In 1961, another attemp was made.
Unfortunately, these attempts were likewise unsuccessful.  The original
colony site was ultimately destroyed and it was then believed that atala
had finally disappeared.
 
Around 1980, someone was walking along the beach and noticed a "pretty
butterfly" resting on some foliage.  He photographed it and the
resulting pictures made their way to Dave Baggett and others who
immediately devised an introduction plan.  The species was reared and
released at numerous prechosen sites, particularly in the Homestead
area.  These releases were very successful and have lead to the natural
establishment of many additional populations.
 
The widespread planting of cycads, both native and exotic, has provided
the species with an abundance of hosts.  It has recently been recorded
in Indian River County, Florida, nearly 100 miles north of the original
sites created in the early 1980's.  This range expansion has probably
exceeded the historical distribution of the species, at least to the
north.  Although the plants naturally occur into north-central Florida,
no atala have yet been found there.  However, based on the continued
utilization of coontie as roadside plantings, I would suspect that it
will eventually be found along the west coast of Florida, perhaps
reaching Sarasota (or even further).  I would also expect it to continue
expanding its range northward along the east coast, perhaps reaching New
Smyrna Beach or beyond.  Although the species would probably not survive
cold winters, it may establish temporary populations in these areas.
Time will tell.  I don't think the last chapter of the atala story has
yet been written.
 
One thing to realize is that the abundance of atala is known to wildly
fluctuate.  In fact, it does not seem to be as common in some of the
areas where it once prospered.  Undoubtedly, Hurricane Andrew dealt it a
severe blow in 1992 in the Homestead area.

I remember sitting at a stop sign in Homestead in the early 1980's,
surrounded by tomato fields with no suitable atala habitat in sight, and
seeing an individual lazily fly over the hood of my car.  Obviously, it
is capable of dispersing fair distances in search of hostplants.

Hope this is of interest.  Take care.
 
Best,
John