Saint Francis' Satyr
| Saint Francis' satyr | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Neonympha |
| Species: | N. mitchellii |
| Subspecies: | N. m. francisci |
| Trinomial name | |
|
Neonympha mitchellii francisci Parshall and Kral, 1989 |
|
 |
|
| NC range by county in red | |
The Saint Francis' satyr (Neonympha mitchellii francisci) is an endangered butterfly found only in the US state of North Carolina. First discovered in 1983, it was officially described in 1989 and listed as a federally endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1994. It is a subspecies of N. mitchellii and is only known from a single metapopulation on Fort Bragg military base in Hoke and Cumberland counties. The other subspecies, Mitchell's satyr (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii), is also federally endangered.
The St. Francis' satyr is a small, dark-brown butterfly with distinguishing white and yellow spots along the lower surfaces of both upper and lower wings. Females appear slightly larger and lighter brown than males. The average wingspan is 34–44 mm. Adults live an average of three or four days. The species is bivoltine, with the first flight period occurring from late May to early June, and the second from late July to mid-August. Females deposit eggs individually or in small clusters that emerge as larvae in seven to ten days. Caterpillars that emerge in early summer (first flight period) pupate after two months, while those that emerge in late summer (second flight period) overwinter and pupate the following spring. Pupation may take up to two weeks. One known larval host plant is Carex mitchelliana, although it is likely that other sedges in the Carex genus may also act as host plants.
The estimated population of St. Francis' satyrs ranged between 500-1400 adult individuals in annual surveys from 2002 to 2005. The population consists of a number of highly fragmented sites, typically small (0.2-2.0 ha) in size. It is assumed that these sites, or subpopulations, are part of one population found in a range that is approximately 10×10 km at Ft. Bragg. Most active sites are found in restricted areas on base, and there may be more active sites within these areas in places that can likely never be accessed. No populations have yet been detected outside of Department of Defense lands on Ft. Bragg. All locations are kept confidential among researchers and military personnel. Over-collection of the species for commercial gain is considered a high threat to this butterfly.
...
Wikipedia