Glaucopsyche lygdamus ruidoso (Sacramento Mountains Silvery Blue Butterfly)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Lycaenidae

Genus: Glaucopsyche

Species: lygdamus ruidoso

Sacramento Mountains Silvery Blue Butterfly - Glaucopsyche lygdamus ruidoso

1381552

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Global Rank: G5

State Rank: S1

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S1	Rank Changed: 02/02/2025
Rank Reviewed: N/A
Reason: The Sacramento Mountains Silvery Blue (<em>Glaucopsyche lygdamus ruidoso</em>) is historically known from the Capitan Mountains, Sierra Blanca, and Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. In recent years, it has been recorded just three times, at two different sites near Sierra Blanca Peak, within 2 km of each other. This butterfly has a low Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy. Due to the real risk of wildfire, these occurrences may be considered just one location. In fact, a couple of 2024 wildfires came within 2-3.5 km of both sites. As many as 9 locations are possible, if the species remains extant in all historic localities. The lower bounds of location are more realistic, as the species has likely been lost from many historic collection localities due to climate change caused drought and increased warming, altered wildfire regimes, and invasive species, among other threats. Because of these threats, continuing decline in habitat area, extent, and quality is inferred. While the species may qualify as Critically Endangered if the lower bounds of EOO, AOO, and locations are considered, the survey effort for this subspecies is lacking, and it may remain in additional localities. Therefore, for the time being, the species is considered S1 in New Mexico.

Ecological Factors
Specificity: Unknown	Range Extent: 250-1000 square km (about 100-400 square miles)
Occurences: 6 - 20	Population Size: Unknown
Area of Occupancy: Using all known occurrence records harvested from GBIF.org, Cary and Toliver 2025, Toliver et al. 2001 and SCAN eight occurrence records were found. A 1km2 grid cell was drawn around each of these using GeoCat and an Area of Occupancy of 8km2 was determined.	Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status: SGCN

NMRP Strategy Status:

Number of Subpopulations: 2

Number of Mapped Locations: 6

Number of Observations: 3

Observation date range: 01-01-2019 to 01-01-2020

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