Wednesday 13 August 2014

Endangered Florida butterflies to get federal protection

By Barbara Liston

Handout of a butterfly species known as Bartram's scrub-hairstreak
Bartram's scrub-hairstreak
ORLANDO (Reuters) - Two species of butterflies that live in South Florida will be listed as endangered under federal law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday.
The official listing of the Bartram's scrub-hairstreak and Florida leafwing butterflies under the Endangered Species Act, expected on Tuesday, will make it illegal to capture or harm the butterflies, and their larvae.
Handout of a butterfly species known as Florida Leafwing
Florida leafwing

Both species were common around Miami and the Florida Keys until development wiped out much of their natural habitat, according to agency spokesman Ken Warren.
"We do believe their numbers are extremely low," Warren said.

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