Photo by James Miskelly
Island Marble
The Island Marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) is white and greenish,
with a marbled texture under the hind wing and a wingspan of approximately
two inches. The Island Marble was historically found in British Columbia,
on Gabriola Island and on Vancouver Island from Nanaimo in the north,
southward along the eastern edge of the island to Beacon Hill Park, Victoria.
It appears that this butterfly inhabited coastal grasslands, and may have
taken advantage of forage in adjacent prairies associated wtih Garry Oak
woodlands. It had not been seen since 1908 and was believed extinct. In
1998, one small population of the Island Marble was found on San Juan
Island in Washington State. Extensive survey work conducted in 2005 revealed
only three more new populations, all with less than ten individuals. There
is a remote possibility that it still occurs at other sites in the San
Juan Islands. On February 13, 2006 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
released a positive 90-day finding that brings the species one step closer
to federal endangered species status.
Island Marble Refused Critical Protection
(November 14, 2006)
Additional Island Marble photos
Archived Press Releases and News
Xerces Society Comments on the 90-Day Finding (April 13, 2006) (pdf format).
Press release: Positive 90-Day Finding (Feb. 13, 2006).
Federal Register: Positive 90-Day Finding (Feb. 13, 2006).
Press
release on lawsuit to protect the Island Marble (Sept. 28, 2004).
Island Marble listing
petition (Dec. 10, 2002) (pdf format).