Callophrys johnsoni

Callophrys johnsoni , the brown mistletoe hairstreak, is resident in a population along the far western coast of North America from southern British Columbia to northern California, and a second, smaller population in eastern Oregon and Idaho (Scott 1986). Habitats are transition to Canadian zone coniferous forest. Host plants are two forms of mistletoe Arceuthobium pampylopodum (family Viscaceae), which parasitizes Pinaceae trees. One form (A. pampylopodum tsugensis) grows on Tsunga heterophylla trees, the other form, A. p. campylopodum, grows on Pinus sabiniana. Individuals overwinter as pupae. There are variable number of flights each year depending on latitude, in the northern and high altitude parts of the range there is one flight, late May-July15 and in the southern part of their range there are two flights, with approximate flight times late Feb-Mar30 and July1-Aug30 (Scott 1986).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)) Southwest British Columbia, south in Coast Ranges to San Francisco Bay in California; south in Cascades and Sierra Nevada to Yosemite. Also in Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Very local (Shields 1965; Opler 1999).

Comments: Occurs mostly in old-growth coniferous forests with red firs, western hemlocks, or gray pines on which its parasitic host grows (Opler, 1962; Shields, 1965). Opler (1999) account is similar.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Comments: Caterpillar foodplant is ARCEUTHOBIUM CAMPYLOPODUM, a parasitic mistletoe on conifers (McCorkle, 1962; Opler, 1962; Shields, 1965; Opler, 1999). Adults nectar on low plants such as CALYPTRIDIUM UMBELLATUM and CEANOTHUS CORDULATUS (Opler, 1962).

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 21 to >300

Comments: Layberry et al. (1998) and Guppy and Shepard (2002) show a dozen locations in British Columbia at the extreme northern limit, and the latter authors suggest a rank there of S1S2. Records are widely scattered in WA, and OR; somewhat more abundant in CA.

Unknown

Adults sip flower nectar and mud. Males perch for females (Scott 1986).

Comments: Adults have one flight at high elevations (Opler, 1962), or two at lower elevations (Shields, 1967). Males perch in the tops of mistletoe-infested conifers to await females (Kelson and Minno, 1983). Based on the life history of related species, eggs are most likely laid on host mistletoes and larvae develop directly, with pupae passing the winter.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

No available public DNA sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Specimens with Barcodes: 12
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N1 - Critically Imperiled

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

Rounded Global Status Rank: G3 - Vulnerable

Reasons: Usually either very rare, or at least rarely seen or collected, and local, although somewhat inaccessible. Likely there are many undiscovered populations. As far as known not imperiled and certainly far more than 20 occurrences, but vulnerable to logging in some parts of range. It is very possible this species has well over 100 occurrences and should be considered secure (G4) but more information is needed. The range is substantial from north to south but narrow as mapped most recently by Brock and Kaufman (2003). This combination rank results from elimination of other possible ranks.

Other Considerations: Occasional massive increases in population, but otherwise seldom seen. Spends most of its time in canopy so likely to be overlooked even where it occurs in some numbers.

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Global Long Term Trend: Unknown

Degree of Threat: Medium

Comments: Logging is the principal threat to populations. Fire is a secondary threat, especially to populations that feed on Gray Pine. Mistletoe control and Bt application threaten local areas. According to McCorkle (pers. comm.) appearance of the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia) coincides with decreases in M. johnsoni. He also thinks M. spinetorum may be replacing johnsoni, at least near the Cascades crest.

Global Protection: Few to many (1-40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: Present or likely to be in Yosemite and several other National Parks.