Although Hermes Copper in general don't travel far from home, the occasional individual will travel some distance from its home in search of new habitat (think the long tail of a bell curve). So planting redberry and flat-top buckwheat (the adult's favorite nectar source) in the vicinity of El Cajon and Alpine would be a proactive conservation measure.
Although Hermes Copper in general don't travel far from home, the occasional individual will travel some distance from its home in search of new habitat (think the long tail of a bell curve). So planting redberry and flat-top buckwheat (the adult's favorite nectar source) in the vicinity of El Cajon and Alpine would be a proactive conservation measure.
Thank you for this Article. I grew up in San Diego and love insects, but had never heard of the Hermes Copper Butterfly.
Yes! It lives only in San Diego County and northern Baja. I should be writing soon about another endangered local butterfly, the quino checkerspot.
I've heard of the Quino Checkerspot, can't wait to read the article.
Please, botanic name for the host plant.
It is Rhamnus crocea, a member of the buckthorn family.