Oregon Zoo Releasing Thousands of Taylor's Checkerspot Caterpillars Near Olympia, WA

By Bill LaMarche 

Portland, OR - For the fourth year in a row, the Oregon Zoo's butterfly conservation lab has successfully reared Taylor's checkerspot larvae, making significant progress in the effort to save this endangered Northwest butterfly.

Earlier this month, after months of diapause (insect hibernation), the zoo moved more than 2,500 checkerspot larvae from their special diapause containers into "wake-up chambers," where the caterpillars began to eat and molt.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife then released more than 2,200 of these zoo-reared caterpillars, an increase from 600 released in 2008. This release is significant both because of the large numbers involved and because it marks the first time larvae from captive-bred butterflies have been included in the release.

The larvae were released near Olympia, Wash., where some of the best prairie habitat remains. Around 300 checkerspots remain at the zoo for educational purposes and for use in perfecting captive-rearing and breeding methods.

For the past six years, the zoo has collaborated with WDFW and other agencies to develop husbandry protocols and raise the checkerspots. This conservation effort is funded by the Fort Lewis Army Compatible Use Buffer program through WDFW. In addition, Parks Canada has joined as an international partner, supporting the zoo's butterfly program for the past two years.

Once abundant in the Northwest, Taylor's checkerspots (Euphydryas editha taylori) are now listed as an endangered species by Washington state and are a candidate for federal listing under the endangered species act. Today, their range is limited to isolated pockets of upland prairie throughout the Northwest. Without large, connected populations, the butterflies struggle to survive.

 "Butterflies continue to disappear, which is troubling because they are such an important part of the ecosystem," said Melissa Arnold, zoo butterfly conservationist. "They are incredibly sensitive to environmental factors like climate change, making them perfect indicators of habitat health, plus they help pollinate prairie plants."

Rearing rare butterflies comes with many challenges. One of the most difficult tasks is feeding the ever-munching larvae, which consume vast quantities of specific plants.

"It's all about the plants," Arnold said. "Without our gardeners growing completely organic, chemical-free vegetation, these critters would have no chance of survival."

Thanks to the zoo's horticulture department, the caterpillars are able to feed on the host plants they would eat in the wild, harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida) and narrow-leaf plantago (Plantago lanceolota).
In addition to conserving Taylor's checkerspots, the zoo has enjoyed phenomenal success in its work with another endangered butterfly, the Oregon silverspot. The zoo has raised and released thousands of these butterflies in the past 11 years.

As a charter member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Butterfly Conservation Initiative, which includes nearly 50 national zoos and aquariums, the Oregon Zoo is strongly committed to butterfly conservation.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, and Oregon spotted frogs. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program.  A parking fee of $2 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.

Oregon Zoo   4001 SW Canyon Rd.   Portland, Oregon 97221   503-226-1561