Palos Verdes blue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palos Verdes blue |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Superfamily: | |
| (unranked): | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Glaucopsyche
|
| Species: |
G. lygdamus
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis |
|
The Palos Verdes blue butterfly is a very small and rare butterfly. It lives only near the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southwest Los Angeles County, California. This makes it one of the rarest butterflies in the world. It is an endangered species, meaning it is at risk of disappearing forever.
Contents
About the Palos Verdes Blue
What Does It Look Like?
This tiny butterfly has a wingspan of only about 25 to 30 millimeters. That's about the size of a quarter!
Male Palos Verdes blue butterflies are bright silvery-blue on their top wings. These blue wings have a thin black line around the edges. Female butterflies have top wings that are more brownish-gray.
Both males and females have gray bottom wings. These wings have dark spots that are surrounded by white rings.
Why Is It Endangered?
The Palos Verdes blue butterfly was listed as an endangered species on July 2, 1980. This means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service recognized it needed special protection. Sadly, insects are not currently protected by California state law.
Protecting Their Home
The biggest problem for the Palos Verdes blue butterfly is losing its living space. Weeds often grow where these butterflies live. These weeds can harm the special plants that young butterflies, called larvae, need to eat. Without enough of their specific food plants, the butterflies cannot survive and grow.
