[leps-talk] Miami Blue

[Mark Walker]

Thanks to John Calhoun for this sanity check.  I have yet to read the paper,
so I probably should hesitate to comment further - but I have rarely been
accused of possessing self control.

John wrote:

> Although there is a popular belief to the contrary, there is NO organized
> effort by the state or federal authorities to remove balloon-vine
> (Cardiospermum) from the Keys or anywhere else in Florida.  It is not
> deemed
> common enough to be a problem.  It is usually incidentally removed during
> habitat restoration.  It grows in disturbed or peripheral areas which are
> usually the first to receive attention during such projects.

This is part of what baffles me concerning this bug.  First of all, it would
almost appear that the lep has benefited historically from (or perhaps even
depended on) human-generated opportunities for foodplant growth through
habitat clearing.  Second, because the bug isn't tied to a particular
habitat, it isn't clear what habitat preservation or conservation measures
would be appropriate or effective.

In El Segundo, CA, our well known little blue Euphilotes ssp. is
precariously dependant on a coastal sand dune habitat that is now virtually
non-existent.  Listing this bug (or perhaps more appropriately, the habitat)
was the only thing that made sense.  Of course it would have been far more
appropriate to secure more of the habitat before building an International
Airport, a major Oil Refinery, a large sewage treatment plant, an electrical
generating facility, and a large stretch of multi-million dollar beachfront
homes and businesses.  Instead, we have a puny, ugly, chain-link fenced in
area that amounts to no more than a zoo cage.  Hardly an example of
conservation success.  To me, success would have been more effectively
realized by the bulldozing of a large stretch of the Redondo coastline -
thereby providing the Blue ample opportunity to interact with many of the
other dune dwelling plants and animals that no one ever mentions.  But given
the lousy conservation measures in place throughout most of the 20th
century, listing the bug was finally necessary.  In accordance with what
Michael Gochfeld has mentioned, listing the bug has helped protect the last
remaining sand dune (and allow Chevron to take a little credit for doing
it).

I don't see how one can justify taking this approach with C. thomasi
bethunebakeri.  The bug doesn't seem to be suffering from a loss of habitat,
but rather from a lack of opportunity to propagate.  Perhaps the bug needs a
little help through a managed effort that increases the availability of its
foodplant - a weedy vine that will attempt to grow just about anywhere.
Listing it will do NOTHING (except perhaps provide an additional feather in
someone's cap while highlighting and promoting the false attitudes that
collecting and collectors spell out doom for butterflies).

It's time to read the report now...

Mark Walker
Stuck under a gray sky in St. Louis, MO



 
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