Outline of Quino Recovery Plan - The Xerces Society

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Current Status: The Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino,
Quino checkerspot) is federally listed as endangered. This taxon occurs in San
Diego and Riverside Counties and several localities in Baja California Norte,
Mexico. Although some habitat is under public ownership, no known Quino
checkerspot habitat complexes are entirely protected, and the species continues
to decline throughout its range.
Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: The Quino checkerspot is found in
association with topographically diverse landscapes that contain low to moderate
levels of nonnative vegetation. Vegetation types that support the Quino
checkerspot are coastal sage scrub, open chaparral, juniper woodland, forblands,
and native grassland. Soil and climatic conditions, as well as ecological and
physical factors, affect the suitability of habitat within the species’ range. Urban
and agricultural development, invasion of nonnative species, habitat
fragmentation and degradation, increased fire frequency, and other humancaused
disturbances have resulted in substantial losses of habitat throughout the
species’ historic range. Conservation needs include protection and management
of suitable and restorable habitat; habitat restoration and enhancement; and
establishment of Quino checkerspot captive breeding program. This plan
identifies six Recovery Units. Recovery Units are geographically bounded areas
containing extant Quino checkerspot populations that are the focus of recovery
actions or tasks. Recovery Units contain both lands that are considered essential
to the long-term conservation of the Quino checkerspot (e.g., networks of
suitable habitat patches and connecting lands) and lands that are not considered
essential (i.e. lands not used by the butterfly such as urban development).
Recovery Priority: 6C, per criteria published in the Federal Register (48 FR
43098; September 21, 1983). The priority is based on its being a subspecies
(rather than a full species) with a high degree of threat, a moderate to low
potential for recovery, and existing conflict between the species’ conservation
and development.
Objectives: The overall objective of this recovery plan is to reclassify the Quino
checkerspot to threatened and ensure the species’ long-term conservation.
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