An entire species of butterfly may be saved from the brink of extinction by a single female specimen, according to The University of Florida.
The Schaus Swallowtail was found in Biscayne, Florida by lepidopterists from the University
Over the past year, the population of this particular species has disappeared so rapidly that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an emergency permit for the lepidopterists to collect the butterfly's eggs.
This proved to be impossible because not a single female Schaus was spotted last summer. Finally, at the beginning of spring the long sought after female was found.
The researchers captured the female, and were able to collect a single egg before releasing her back into the wild the next day.
A larva hatched from the egg and is being transported to Gainesville Florida where it will join other collected Schaus larvae.
"This single female could help bring the Schaus back from the brink," Jaret Daniels, professor in UF's Department of Entomology and Nematology and associate curator of lepidoptera at UF's Florida Museum of Natural History, said. "The larva from her egg, combined with the other larvae we found in habitat preserved by Biscayne National Park, gives us the chance to help safeguard a portion of the remaining population."
The Schaus was listed as an endangered species in 1984, explanations for their rapid decline has been linked to insecticides, drought, and habitat destruction.
"The undeveloped keys within Biscayne National Park provide a last refuge for the Schaus where pesticides are not sprayed and native host plants are both protected and restored," said Brian Carlstrom, Superintendent at Biscayne National Park.
In 1992 scientists believed they saved the species. Researchers were granted permission to capture the species and launched a breeding program. After Hurricane Andrew wiped out a great deal of the wild population they released thousands of butterflies back into the wild.
The population continued to decline. Last year the researchers were only able to find four butterflies, all were male.
"Kudos to the University of Florida team that found her and is nurturing the larvae," said Larry Williams, the Service's Florida state supervisor for ecological services. "But our work is ongoing. We're going to keep searching as long as we can. The despair we felt last year has been replaced by hope."
According to the UF, "[the Schaus is] considered the flagship species for the health of what's known as tropical hardwood hammock habitat, the proverbial canary in the coal mine whose decline can sound a warning about the health of other species."
The butterfly was once even featured on postage stamps.
