Submitted by the San Juan County Conservation District

Are you interested in learning about and helping one of the most endangered butterflies in the world? We need you to provide habitat for this impressive insect! The island marble butterfly, after spending eleven months (most of its life) as a chrysalis, emerges as a butterfly at this time of year to pollinate local wildflowers.

Join Walt Andrews of the San Juan Islands Conservation District (SJICD) at the San Juan Island Library on May 18 at 7 p.m. and at the Lopez Island Library on May 25 at 7 p.m. to learn more and get involved. Walt will go into depth on the natural history of the island marble butterfly and explain how landowners are contributing to the successful recovery of this endangered species.

The island marble is struggling to thrive due to losses in habitat. The Conservation District and partner agencies are working with local landowners to increase available habitat on private lands. SJICD is looking for more habitat land hosts, specifically within certain areas where current populations are known to exist. Not a landowner or not within range? Volunteers are encouraged to support existing habitats by helping with planting, fencing, maintenance, and other activities.

Can’t attend the presentation? If you are a landowner who would like to host habitat, or a volunteer looking to get involved, please contact Walt Andrews at walt@sjicd.org or 360-375-3070. For more information visit us online at www.islandmarblebutterflyhub.org and at www.sanjuanislandscd.org. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you!

The May 18 and May 25 events are funded in part by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and in partnership with On Sacred Ground. We are appreciative of the community support.

Photo caption: An island marble butterfly lights on a bright cluster of field mustard flowers, one of several favored species of host plants.