Neonympha mitchellii francisci

Overview

This rare butterfly occurs in the sandhills of Cumberland County, North Carolina. Until its recent rediscovery, the species was believed to have been collected to extinction. One fragmented population is now known to survive.

Description

Saint Francis' satyr is a small, dark brown butterfly. The wingspan for the species ranges from 34 to 44 millimeters. Saint Francis' satyr has conspicuous "eye spots" on the lower surfaces of the wings. These eye spots have a dark maroon-brown center, and within the eye spots are lighter opalescent patches that reflect a silver cast. The border of these dark eye spots is straw-yellow in color, with an outermost border of dark brown. The eye spots are usually round to slightly oval and are well-developed on the fore wing as well as on the hind wing. The spots are accented by two bright orange bands along the posterior wing edges and two somewhat darker orange-brown bands across the central portion of each wing.

Life History

The annual life cycle of Neonympha mitchellii francisci, unlike that of its northern relative the Mitchell's satyr, is bivoltine having two adult flights - or generations - per year. Larval host plants are believed to be graminoids such as grasses, sedges, and rushes. Little else is known about the life history of this butterfly. The habitat occupied by this satyr consists primarily of wide, wet meadows dominated by sedges and other wetland graminoids. In the North Carolina sandhills, such meadows are often relicts of beaver activity. Saint Francis' satyr has also been observed in pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava) swales, with cane (Arundinaria tecta), and with the rare plants rough-leaved loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulaefolia) and pocosin lily (Lilium iridollai). It is, however, unknown whether the satyr uses such habitat for reproduction or simply as a dispersal corridor.

Distribution

Because of its relatively recent discovery, it is impossible to determine what the original range of Saint Francis' satyr might have been. However, based upon its demonstrated dependence on periodic fires and the general trend of fire suppression on private lands, it seems reasonable to assume that it once occupied a more extensive area. Currently, only a single metapopulation of Saint Francis' satyr is known to exist in the sandhills of North Carolina, in Cumberland and Hoke Counties.

Conservation Status

Only a single metapopulation of Saint Francis' satyr is known to exist in the sandhills of North Carolina, in Cumberland and Hoke Counties.

Conservation Needs

The draft recovery plan states: "Immediate protection and management of the habitats that support the species, initiation of a captive propagation program, and development of the monitoring scheme and research agenda will be necessary to prevent extinction."

Working with landowners

The Saint Francis' satyr may be restricted to artillery impact areas at Fort Bragg, military installation in North Carolina. North Carolina State University (NCSU) professor Nick Haddad is conducting surveys to determine whether other populations exist in surrounding areas, including game land and potential Nature Conservancy landholdings.

Education

Education sheets available at zoological facilities (e.g. zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens with butterflies, butterfly houses, natural history museums) or events at which BFCI partners participate are a valuable way to disseminate information about imperiled butterflies. When schools and other youth organizations study biodiversity and species extinctions they typically use examples of charismatic megafauna (e.g. bald eagles) or exotic creatures from the tropics. However, vulnerable species found within the state or ecoregion in which students live provide an excellent opportunity to develop curricular materials with a direct link to the students' home region. In addition to classroom studies, students may be able to visit sites to see the butterflies, as well as talk to the scientists and land managers involved in the species' conservation.

Educational activities that school students and community members could do include:

• studying butterfly (insect) life stages;
• researching the special habitat needs of the Saint Francis' satyr;
• corresponding or meeting with the biologists managing current Saint Francis' satyr sites;
• assisting scientists with on-site habitat management;
• propagating and growing host plants for planting at butterfly sites or use in captive breeding programs; and
• writing letters to decision makers to ensure that the Saint Francis' satyr receives adequate resources and protection.

Research

Dr. Nick Haddad at NCSU has initiated population surveys in Fort Bragg, NC. He is also researching larval food resources, since the larval host plant(s) is not yet definitely known for this species. Careful research protocols are essential to ensure the integrity of the fragile wetland habitat. Research support is most needed at landscape level. Restoration efforts may be productive for this species. Additional population monitoring in suitable habitat off the Fort Bragg complex is a priority. Surveys may also identify suitable habitat for translocation/reintroduction of captive-reared adults.

Captive Rearing

Dr. Nick Haddad at NCSU may soon have the opportunity to do very limited captive rearing work with the Saint Francis' satyr. Translocation of captive reared adults into suitable habitat would allow for testing of whether their assessment of this species' habitat needs truly supports viable populations.

Recovery Plan

Recovery Plan for the Saint Francis's satyr (3.7MB pdf).

The recovery plan for Saint Francis's satyr was finalized in 1996. The recovery objective is to downlist the butterfly to threatened status, followed by eventual delisting.

Saint Francis's satyr will be considered for reclassification from endangered to threatened status when the existing metapopulation has been stable or increasing in numbers for at least 10 to 15 years and when a long-term protection and management plan is in place to ensure its continued survival. Delisting will be considered when the existing metapopulation has been protected and stabilized, as described above, and when at least two other populations have been found or established in the sandhills region and have been stable or increasing for 10 to 15 years. Protection and management plans must be implemented before reclassification can be considered.

Recovery Priorities

• Implement protective management for the extant population, including protection from illegal collecting.
• Survey suitable habitat for additional populations and potential reintroduction sites; reestablish populations within the species' historic range.
• Manage populations for long-term viability through management agreements, acquisition, registry, cooperative agreements, etc.
• Monitor existing populations.
• Conduct research on the biology of the species and on suitable management tools for maintaining its native habitat.
• Develop techniques for captive breeding to assist in the reestablishment of populations in the wild; maintain captive populations.
• Develop information and education programs.

More Info

• USFWS contact: Dale Suiter, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Raleigh Field Office, P.O. Box 33726, Raleigh, NC 27636-3726, Phone (919) 856-4520, extension 18
• Dr. Nick Haddad, Assistant Professor of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Phone (919) 515-4588, nick_haddad@ncsu.edu
• North Carolina Natural Heritage Program: Steve Hall, Invertebrate Zoologist, Phone (919) 715-8688, stephen.hall@ncmail.net
• Fort Bragg: Erich Hoffman, Saint Francis' satyr contact, Fort Bragg, hoffmane@bragg.army.mil. Phone 910-396-2867

References

• Hall, S. 1993. A rangewide status survey of Saint Francis's satyr Neonympha mitchellii francisci (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Field Office, Asheville, NC. 44 pp.
• Opler, P., and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York.
• Refsnider, R. 1991. Emergency rule to list the Mitchell's satyr as endangered. Federal Register 56(122):28825.
• Schweitzer, D. 1989. A review of category 2 insects in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Regions 3, 4, and 5. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Newton Corner, MA. Pp. 132-133.
• Woodward, D., and R. Hazel. 1991. Beavers in North Carolina; ecology, utilization, and management. Cooperative Extension Service Publication No. AG-434, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
• USFWS Saint Francis Satyr in North Carolina
• USFWS Saint Francis' satyr butterfly page
• USFWS Final rule and listing for the Saint Francis' satyr
• Endangered Butterfly Lives Where Fire, Damage Abound (North Carolina State University

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Classification

Federal Endangered Species (Federal Register: 59: 18324; April 18, 1994)

State Status

No state designation beyond the federal classification.

Range

NC

Critical Habitat

None designated

Acknowledgement

This profile was prepared by the Xerces Society for the Butterfly Conservation Initiative.