The Johnson’s hairstreak butterfly underscores the importance of mature forests, revealing ecosystem health and highlighting the need for further study of Washington’s insects.
Category: Invertebrates
Endangered Insects of the Washington Shrubsteppe
Five key insect species in the shrubsteppe ecosystem indicate environmental health; their declines signal broader ecological challenges in connectivity, water, and biodiversity.
Taylor’s Checkerspot
Endemic to the Pacific Northwest, this striking butterfly is near local extinction in Washington.
