Mission Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides missionensis)

Mission Blue butterfly (male) on pink California Checker Mallow. The Mission Blue was one of the first insects added to the federal endangered species list, in 1976. Image photographed in the Marin Headlands near habitat restoration work to save this butterfly from extinction. California Checkerbloom Mallow (Sidalcea malviflora ssp. californica) is a native california species found in select coastal areas.

20180505_0090California checker mallowCalifornia nativeIcaricia icarioides missionensisMission Blue ButterflySidalcea malviflora ssp. californicapink checker mallow