WHO AM I?
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
DYING REPRESENTATIONS OF LIFE AND SOUL
Butterflies are meaningful and powerful representations of life. They have a high aesthetic value, which is why many cultures associate butterflies with our spirit. Because of butterflies’ beauty and capability of metamorphosis, they are seen as powerful species. In the Aztec culture, butterflies symbolize the soul, in the Christian religion, they symbolize resurrection in new beginnings, and in the Chinse culture, butterflies represent young love (Renee, 2
Photo by JL Cummins
2010). Even today, butterflies spread joy around the world. Ever seen a child’s face when the fluttering wings of a butterfly are near? It lights up with joy, an emotion we need in the world now more than ever. Consider your children (present or future); do you want them to grow up in a world devoid of the innocent joy brought by butterflies? This idea referred to as bequest value, is the idea that we have a responsibility to leave the planet better than we came into it and make a better world for future generations. This belief is shared by the Iroquois, a Native American group that lived in present-day New York, who believed that the responsibility of the people is to make choices to sustain the land 7 generations into the future. (Renee, 2010). Another cause of joy impacted by Myrtle’s silverspot is flowers, in particular, the western dog violet. Flowers are as beautiful as they are calming and without Myrtle’s silverspot, we could lose one of California’s most beautiful flowers.
HABITAT AND POPULATION DECLINE
Photo by Michael Durham
The exquisite Myrtle’s silverspot is sadly endangered due to the loss of habitat. The butterfly’s territory has been wiped out by urbanization and cattle ranching. These activities destroy the plants, like the beautiful purple western dog violet, that the butterfly relies on to help reproduce and lay their eggs in (Encyclopedia. 2019). These little fragile larvae are extremely vulnerable to pesticides, and the females are very selective about where
to lay their eggs (Encyclopedia, 2019). Myrtle's silverspot butterfly is found exclusively in the coastal dunes and prairie habitats, in western Marin and southwestern Sonoma counties, including the Point Reyes National Seashore (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2017). The number of Myrtle’s silverspot was estimated to be under 10,000 adults in 1991. Sadly by 1993, two separate populations in Point Reyes National Seashore were estimated at less than 5,000 individuals and several hundred individuals. Today, only four populations are known, isolated from each other by human habitation (National Park Service, 2007).
HOW AM I ENDANGERED WHEN I REPRODUCE SO QUICKLY?
SPECIES ADVOCATES
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DISAPPEAR?
When Myrtle's silverspot is gone, we will have lost a beautiful and impactful pollinator, especially for the native western dog violet. Pollinators are essential for native plants. Since native plants are adapted to their environmental conditions, they require a lot fewer resources, such as seaweed adapted to their underwater environment and cacti are adapted to their desert environment. Diverse varieties of species are attracted to native plants, thus increasing biodiversity in an environment. Losing Myrtle’s silverspot butterfly will mean a loss of biodiversity in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Losing a variety of life in an ecosystem can lead to a malfunction in the ecosystem. Biodiversity increases the productivity of ecosystems, so that every animal, no matter the size, has an important role. For example, a larger amount of plants leads to a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life.