Center for Biological Diversity

110 Success Stories for Endangered Species Day 2012

Invertebrates        


American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus)

Status: Endangered Critical habitat: none
Listed: 8/13/1989 Recovery plan: 9/27/1991
   

Range: AR(b), KS(b), MA(b), NE(b), OH(b), OK(b), RI(b), SD(b), TX(b) --- AL(x), CT(x), DE(x), DC(x), FL(x), GA(x), IL(x), IN(x), IA(x), KY(x), LA(x), ME(x), MD(x), MI(x), MN(x), MS(x), MO(x), MT(x), NH(x), NY(x), NJ(x), NC(x), ND(x), PA(x), SC(x), TN(x), VT(x), VA(x), WV(x), WI(x)

SUMMARY
The cause of the American burying beetle's 90% range loss is not well understood, but is thought to be due to disruptions in the food and reproductive web. It is threatened by competition, drought, invasive ants and habatat loss. When listed as endangered in 1989, there were only two known populations. Captive breeding, reintroduction efforts and intensive surveys have increased the total number of populations to 20 or more in 2011.

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El Segundo blue butterfly (Euphilotes battoides allyni)

Status: EndangeredCritical habitat: none
Listed: 6/1/1976Recovery plan: 9/28/1998
   

Range: CA(b) ---

SUMMARY
The El Segundo blue butterfly lost approximately 90 percent of its oceanside habitat to construction of the Los Angeles Airport and a housing development. The remaining habitat was highly degraded and overtaken by exotic plants that crowded out its host. The butterfly declined from about 1,000 individuals in the late 1970s, when listed as an endangered species, to about 500 in 1984 before being saved by restoration efforts that steadily increased the population at the Airport Dunes to 123,000 in 2011.

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Palos Verdes blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis)

Status: EndangeredCritical habitat: 7/2/1980
Listed: 7/2/1980Recovery plan: 1/19/1984
   

Range: CA(b) ---

SUMMARY
Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation drove the Palos Verdes blue butterfly to near extinction. It remains threatened by severe weather, climate change, invasive species and fire suppression. This butterfly was protected as endangered in 1980. In 1984 it was believed extinct. It was then rediscovered, and a captive-breeding program was established. As of 2008 there were 219 butterflies.

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Socorro isopod (Thermosphaeroma thermophilum)

Status: EndangeredCritical habitat: none
Listed: 3/27/1978Recovery plan: 2/16/1982
   

Range: NM(b) ---

SUMMARY
The Socorro isopod was reduced to a single spring due to water diversions. It was protected in 1978. After the species was nearly driven to extinction by an accident in 1988, three new populations were established on site and in a research park. All populations were stable as of 2009.

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Tulotoma (Tulotoma magnifica)

Status: ThreatenedCritical habitat: none
Listed: 1/9/1991Recovery plan: 11/17/2000
   

Range: AL

SUMMARY
The tulotoma declined due to dams and water quality degradation. Ongoing threats include droughts, spills and pollution. Since listing in 1991, the tulotoma increased from 10,000 to more than 100 million individuals as of 2011. The number of populations also increased from six to 10.

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