description Palos Verdes Blue Overview
The Palos Verdes blue is an endangered butterfly associated with the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California. It is treated as a subspecies of the silvery blue and depends on particular local food plants used by its larvae, including deerweed and locoweed. After being considered extinct, it was rediscovered at a site near San Pedro, and subsequent conservation work has included captive breeding, habitat restoration, and carefully managed releases.
help Palos Verdes Blue FAQ
What is the Palos Verdes Blue butterfly?
The Palos Verdes blue is an endangered butterfly subspecies uniquely associated with the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California. Males are known for their striking silvery-blue wings, while females are predominantly brown.
What does the Palos Verdes Blue eat?
The caterpillars of the Palos Verdes blue butterfly depend heavily on specific local food plants, primarily deerweed and locoweed. Adult butterflies feed on the nectar of these and other native coastal sage scrub flowers.
Was the Palos Verdes Blue ever thought to be extinct?
Yes, the Palos Verdes blue was considered extinct in the early 1980s after its habitat was largely destroyed by urban development. It was miraculously rediscovered in 1994 at the Defense Fuel Support Point in San Pedro, sparking intensive conservation efforts.
How are conservationists saving the Palos Verdes Blue?
Organizations such as the Urban Wildlands Group and the Los Angeles Zoo maintain captive breeding programs to boost wild populations. They also work to restore native coastal sage scrub habitat by planting the specific host plants the butterfly needs.
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