2011-05-12_PERMIT FILE - M2011028 (2)

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Species Profile for Uncompahgre Fritillary butterfly (Boloria acrocnema) No critical habitat rules have been published for the Uncompahgre Fritillary butterfly. » Conservation Plans No conservation plans have been created for Uncompahgre Fritillary butterfly Petitions Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1) Pate Citation Page Title Finding Page 3 of 4 01/20/1984 49 FR 2485 2488 Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of . Notice 12 month petition Progress on Listing Actions: 49 FR 2485-2488 finding, Warranted but precluded » Life History Habitat Requirements All known populations are associated with large patches of snow willow above 3,780 meters (12,400 feet) which provide food and cover. The species has been found only on northeast-facing slopes, which are the coolest and wettest microhabitat available. Food Habits Snow willow is the larval food plant, while adults take nectar from a wide range of flowering alpine plants. Movement / Home Range Since listing and the completion of the Recovery Plan, the number of confirmed UFB colonies has increased from 2 to 11. Population estimates have increased from about 1,000 to somewhere between 3,400 and 23,000 at the 3 currently monitored colonies. Similarly, the other eight qualitatively monitored populations have persisted despite four of the colonies apparently having no individuals during one or two surveys in different years since 2001. UFB movement is limited to their habitat patches. Genetic analyses currently underway may help determine if there is connectivity between colonies. Reproductive Strategy Females lay eggs on snow willow (Salix reticulata spp. nivalis), which is the larval food plant. The species is believed to have a biennial life history, which means that it requires two years to complete its life cycle. Eggs laid in 2008, an even-numbered year, would be caterpillars in 2009, an odd-numbered year, and mature into adults the following even- numbered year 2010. The odd-and even-year broods would function as essentially separate populations. Some caterpillars may take two summers to mature rather than three, and slowly developing caterpillars may take up to 4 years to mature. For example, if an egg is laid in 2009, the individual would normally spend all of 2010 as a caterpillar, metamorphose into a butterfly and reproduce to complete the normal biennial lifecycle in 2011. Quickly developing caterpillars could hatch from an egg in 2009, and then metamorphose into an adult and reproduce in 2010. However, 6? t? t IT I? • PA6F B •(o http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=I01 Q 4/12/2011