SAN BRUNO ELFIN

Description: The San Bruno elfin is brown on the upperside, and reddish brown on the underside with a whitish, irregular median line (both sexes). The larvae (caterpillars) are bright red or bright yellow.

Size: Adults are 20 - 24 mm (a bit smaller than the Mission blue). Larvae are very small, but easily spotted due to their bright coloring.

Habitat: The elfin occurs only on north-facing slopes within the fogbelt where its hostplant, stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) grows. Stonecrop grows in coastal grassland and low scrub on thin, rocky soils.

Range: Remaining populations of San Bruno elfin butterfly are found in only three locations around the San Francisco Bay area in California: Milagra Ridge (San Mateo County), San Bruno Mountain (San Mateo County), and Montara Mountain (San Mateo County). Though the elfin has always been a sparse population due to the limited range of its hostplant, the historical distribution of the species probably included Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson (San Francisco County).

Life Cycle: Females oviposit on the ventral surface of stonecrop from February to early April. The red or yellow larvae hatch in 5 to 7 days and feed on Sedum leaves in the first and second instar. Third instar larvae begin to feed on the flower heads of the Sedum in May, and continue to do so in the fourth instar. The fourth instar pupates at the base of the hostplant, and the pupa enters a diapause, which lasts through the summer, fall, and early winter. Adults emerge February to early April and live for about a week, mating and laying eggs on the host plant.

Food Source: Elfin larvae will feed only on the leaves of the host plant, Sedum spathulifolium. Adults may drink the nectar of early-blooming coastal flowers, especially hog fennel (Lomatium utriculatum), using a long tube called a proboscis that extends from the underside of the head.

Population: The San Bruno Mountain population is estimated at 1,000 or more adults within 15 subpopulations. Montara Mountain supports about 10 subpopulations, and Milagra Ridge supports about four.

Behavior: First and second instar larvae spend most of their time feeding on stonecrop leave, while the third and fourth instars feed on stonecrop flowers. Larvae are active in all weather conditions. Adults spend their short lives mating, laying eggs, and nectaring. To locate a mate, adult males perch in the vicinity of the host plant, flying out to investigate passing insects. Females spend even less time in flight than males. Adults rarely stray far from the Sedum habitat. On rainy, cool, windy, or foggy days, adults hide out underneath vegetation.

Survival Threats: The habitat of the San Bruno elfin has been reduced due to urbanization in some areas, though the remainder of the habitat is protected as County, State, and National Parks. Other land uses, such as quarrying on San Bruno Mountain and possible road construction on Montara Mountain, may destroy or disturb habitat. The invasion of exotic plant species, such as ice plant, pampas grass, broom, gorse, and eucalyptus, also threaten habitat. Parasitization of larvae by a Tachinid fly occurs at a rate of 50-80%, and rodents may eat both larvae and pupae.

Legal Protection: The San Bruno elfin was added to the Federal Endangered Species List in 1976, and is protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Endangered Species

Mission Blue Butterfly
San Bruno Elfin Butterfly
San Francisco Garter Snake
California Red-Legged Frog