The Quino Checkerspot Butterfly

This amazing butterfly, called the Quino Checkerspot and known scientifically as the Euphydryas editha quino is yet another native San Diego animal. Most people think of a butterfly, and this one comes right to mind. The Quino Checkerspot is a subspecies of the common Edith's Checkerspot. The Quino butterfly usually is about medium sized, with a three centimeter wingspan. It is very colorful and is usually like a checkerboard of brown, red and yellow spots. This butterfly differs from others because whatever reddish colors it has on it, are usually darker than the other types and species of the butterfly. This butterfly in particular has really been effected by the industrialization around it. This butterfly is actually pretty used to the urban developments, but that is just because it actually had to adapt to it. There was no question at all about saving this little butterfly, there was really only a concern to just worry about building whatever needed building. This really has drastically effected the population of not only this species of butterfly, but also the other species that are closely linked to this one. Many people believe that there is nothing that can be done to try and save the smaller animals like this one. That is the furthest thing from the truth. Many people don't realize that most everything that they do effects not only this butterfly but many other organisms around them.
The fact that in the past 100 years, the population of this butterfly had drastically dropped, really is a bummer. Many people don't even see butterflies around anymore, because of the different buildings and other things that have been changing what we all see, or don't see. I truly believe that if more people knew about the different problems that small organisms like this one face, there would not be as big of an issue. There really is not much that we can all do to try and help this butterfly, but just acknowledging that these butterflies exist is truly a start. One day, if this does become an issue of this butterfly becoming extinct, you will now know about it, and you will have known. That is truly the first step in doing your part for the Quino Checkerspot butterfly.