The Miami Blue, a Butterfly on the Brink

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took emergency action to list the Miami blue Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri as an endangered species, recognizing what butterfly-watchers in South Florida have known for decades: This nickel-sized butterfly is on the brink of extinction. Once common throughout South Florida, Miami blues have suffered near-total declines “for reasons that no one knows,” in the words of Jeffrey Glassberg, president of the North American Butterfly Association.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took emergency action to list the Miami blue Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri as an endangered species, recognizing what butterfly-watchers in South Florida have known for decades: This nickel-sized butterfly is on the brink of extinction. Once common throughout South Florida, Miami blues have suffered near-total declines “for reasons that no one knows,” in the words of Jeffrey Glassberg, president of the North American Butterfly Association.

Source: Miami News, August 10, 2011
http://miami-news.info/miami-top-stories/the-miami-blue-a-butterfly-on-the-brink.html