Help map violet (Viola adunca) populations, the sole host plant for the Myrtle Silverspot butterfly, throughout the north Point Reyes peninsula (Bull Point, North Beach, etc.) Rarely observed and exquisitely specialized, the federally endangered Myrtle’s Silverspot butterfly’s life cycle is bound to one plant alone — Viola adunca, commonly called the western dog violet or hookedspur violet. Juvenile Myrtle Silverspot insects live on and around the violet plants in grasslands in the fall and emerge in late spring. Better understanding the range of the violet host plant within the Myrtle’s Silverspot’s habitat is crucial for its survival. In collaboration with Point Reyes National Seashore Association and Baxter Botanical, volunteers are invited to help census the Viola adunca populations in Point Reyes National Seashore the months of April and May 2026. Data will help further understand the Myrtle Silverspot butterfly habitat needs and further protect this cryptic endangered species.
Meeting locations will vary around Bull Point and North Beach. Please sign up in advance for more information.
Exact times TBD
Dates:
April 9, 11, 23, 25
May 7, 9, 21, 23
Note: The Myrtle’s Silverspot butterfly in the Point Reyes area is also known as the Point Reyes Silverspot (Argynnis zerene ssp. puntareyes) according to iNaturalist.