Decades after a US butterfly species vanished, a close relative is released to fill gap
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — More than 80 years ago, a beautiful butterfly called Xerces Blue that once fluttered among San Francisco’s coastal dunes went extinct as stately homes, museums and parks ate up its habitat, marking the first butterfly species in the United States to disappear due to human development.
But thanks to years of research and modern technology a close relative of the shimmery iridescent butterfly species has been reintroduced to the dunes in Presidio National Park in San Francisco. Dozens of Silvery Blue butterflies — the closest living relatives of the Xerces Blue — were released in the restored habitat last week, officials said Monday.
Scientists with San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences utilized the Academy’s genetic sequencing capabilities and analyzed Xerces Blue specimens in their vast collection to confirm a group of Silvery Blues in Monterey County, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of San Francisco, could successfully fill the ecological gap left by the Xerces Blue.
Related articles
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia Republicans on Saturday elected to the Republican National Committee a2024-05-21Railway services resume in east China after 7.3
Railway services in east China's Fujian and Jiangxi provinces have all resumed operations after2024-05-218 people confirmed dead after ship collision in south China
All eight people who were missing after a collision between a fishing boat and a commercial ship off2024-05-21Putin says Moscow terror attack committed by radical Islamists, more questions remain
MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that the deadly terrorist2024-05-21Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has added a stop in Luxembourg to a trip to Belgium in September, a three-d2024-05-21Chinese border region not affected by radiation source in Russian city: Authorities
China's National Nuclear Safety Administration on Wednesday said that a "radioactive contam2024-05-21
atest comment