Feature: Saving Pollinators One Butterfly at a Time

Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) nectaring on goldenrod.

We take them for granted. They’re always there when the flowers start to bloom-- sometimes beautiful and sometimes annoying but they’re always there or at least they used to be. “They” are pollinators. These little creatures include bees, butterflies and moths and many other insect with wings (not to mention birds and bats) that move from blossom to blossom carrying pollen and making it possible for just about every thing on earth to blossom and grow so that we can eat.  

In fact it was Albert Einstein who famously said that if pollinators were to vanish we humans would ourselves face extinction.  So the vanishing of pollinators is serious business.  Scientists are still scratching their heads to understand why so many are vanishing, but at the Plant Materials Center (PMC) in Corvallis, Oregon, they’re doing something to help at least one of these threatened life makers. 

It all started when the Corvallis PMC entered into a new agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) in 2006 to provide native plant materials for ecological restoration because of the reconstruction of a bridge. This bridge area lies within the critical habitat of the endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta).  

“The butterfly has become threatened due to the degradation and loss of its coastal meadow habitat,” said Amy Bartow, soil conservationist with the Corvallis, PMC. “The early blue violet plant is the host to the silverspot’s caterpillars and has also been negatively impacted in its coastal meadow ranges by the encroachment of tall, spreading exotic plants.”   

The butterfly also needs access to nectar sources such as Pacific aster (Aster chilensis), goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea).  The PMC is growing these species as well for planting at the site.  

In the agreement with FHA, the PMC is establishing and maintaining seed increase fields. This year plugs grown by the PMC will be transplanted into the site. Red fescue and early blue violet will be planted in patches surrounded by nectar plants.  

“The project should help provide additional habitat area for silverspot butterflies and hopefully be used as a case study for adding more critical habitat in the future,” said Bartow. “Additionally, violet seed has been provided to the Oregon Zoo and will be used to grow violets for their captive breeding program for the butterflies.”