Puritan tiger beetles, a federally-listed threatened species, are found in only two places in the world ? the west coast of the Chesapeake Bay and the Connecticut River. To help the Connecticut River population, the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge conducted critical management and monitoring activities in 2004.

In the spring, 90 larvae were transported from Connecticut to help augment the precarious Massachusetts population, where less than 100 adults are counted each year. Surveys of the Massachusetts population revealed 52 adults in 2004. All the adults that were captured were color-marked, which allowed careful monitoring of individual beetle behavior and habitat use to continue over their critical mating period. The Conte Refuge also funded the removal of vegetation that threatens to make existing larval habitat unsuitable. Volunteers helped out with all activities, contributing a total of 400 hours of effort.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast