Euphydryas editha taylori also known by its common name Taylor's Checkerspot is a butterfly native to an area of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Northwest and Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

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Description

The Taylor’s Checkerspot, also known as the Whulge Checkerspot is the darkest subspecies of the Euphydryas

Euphydryas

Euphydryas is a genus of Nymphalidae butterfly.-Species:Euphydryas species-group:* Euphydryas phaeton – Baltimore CheckerspotHypodryas species-group:...

genus. This butterfly has a wing span of less than 2.25 inches. It gets its name from the checkered color pattern on its wings that consist of black, orange and white coloring. Taylor's Checkerspot once ranged from the Willamette Valley in Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

 to Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

 in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

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Conservation status

The Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly is at extreme risk of going extinct. It has been a candidate species for the U.S. Endangered Species act since 2001. In Washington it is listed as a species of concern and has an active conservation program. In Oregon Taylor’s checkerspot is on the Threatened and Endangered Species list, but receives no protection under state statute. Before its dramatic decline the Taylor’s Checkerspot was documented at more than seventy sites, but is currently found only at twelve sites in Washington and two in Oregon. Canada has listed the subspecies as endangered since 2000 and it is currently extirpated from British Columbia.

Threats

The biggest threat to its survival is the loss of prairie habitat due to human settlement. Since our arrival more than 99% of the lowland prairies has been destroyed. The reason for this is that prairies are prime locations for agriculture as well as development of all types due to the lack of trees and flat topography. Along with habitat loss the subspecies is impacted by pesticide use that makes their plight even worse. Increased risk of harm due to drought is another major concern since they are now stuck on these patches of habitat with no chance to migrate to more suitable places.