[Pollinator] Conservation groups move to protect rare moth in Washington and BC

[Sarina Jepsen]

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CONSERVATION GROUPS MOVE TO PROTECT RARE COASTAL MOTH FROM WASHINGTON AND
BRITISH COLUMBIA

For immediate release:
February 4, 2010

*Contacts: *
Sarina Jepsen, Director, Endangered Species Program, Xerces Society for
Invertebrate Conservation; 503-232-6639 sarina at xerces.org

Nicole Rosmarino, Ph.D., Wildlife Program Director, WildEarth Guardians
505-699-7404, nrosmarino at wildearthguardians.org
Only ten populations of the Sand Verbena Moth remain

SEATTLE, WA– WildEarth Guardians* *and The Xerces Society for Invertebrate
Conservation filed a
petition<http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sand-verbena-moth-petition.pdf>today
seeking Endangered Species Act status for the Sand Verbena Moth (
*Copablepharon fuscum*).

Only ten populations of the Sand Verbena Moth are known from coastal areas
in Washington and British Columbia. Within its range, this moth depends on
dune coastal habitat containing relatively large stands of its host plant,
the yellow sand verbena. The Sand Verbena Moth is threatened by rising sea
levels and increased storm surges due to climate change, habitat loss from
invasive dune grasses displacing its host plant and high recreational use of
coastal dunes, among other threats.

"The sand verbena moth is literally on the edge of extinction and urgently
needs the legal protections of the Endangered Species Act," stated Dr.
Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth Guardians. "Mounting threats to the moth and
its lifeline, the yellow sand verbena, include recreation, proliferation of
exotic weeds, and climate change. The Endangered Species Act can help reign
in these threats."

Recognizing the Moth’s imperilment, Canada listed this species as Endangered
under its Species At Risk Act in 2005 and released its Recovery Strategy in
2008.  In contrast, the Sand Verbena Moth has no status under the U.S.
Endangered Species Act (ESA). This petition therefore requests that the U.S.
list this critically imperiled insect as Endangered or Threatened under the
ESA.

“It makes sense for the United States to work with Canada to protect this
endangered animal,” said Sarina Jepsen, Director of the Endangered Species
Program at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  “The first
step in that process is to follow Canada’s lead and list this species under
the Endangered Species Act.”

###

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the Petition<http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sand-verbena-moth-petition.pdf>
WildEarth Guardians <http://www.wildearthguardians.org/>
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation <http://www.xerces.org/>

PHOTO
Sand verbena moth by Nick Page.

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