Fender's blue butterfly is a subspecies of Boisduval's blue endemic to the Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon, United States. The potential range of the butterfly extends from south and west of Portland, OR to south of Eugene, OR. The butterfly is host-specific on the Kincaid's lupine, which it relies on for reproduction and growth. The male and female can be identified by their difference in wing color. The Fender's Blue Butterfly was added to the endangered species list in January 2000, but as of February of 2023, has been reclassified as "threatened". The Fender's blue butterfly population has increased over the past 20 years and projected to increase more through conservation efforts. In Willamette Valley, Oregon, there are currently 90 sites filled with Fender's blue.
Fender's blue butterfly
Female Fenders Blue butterfly
A Fender's blue butterfly on its host plant, the Kincaid's lupine.
Lupine field a Blue Fenders butterflies could reside in.
Nebria brevicollis, belonging to the Carabidae family, is a ground beetle. With nearly 500 species and over 100 subspecies, N. brevicollis is the most diverse genus within the Nebriini tribe of ground beetles. Members of the genus occupy a wide range of habitats. Nebria brevicollis is native to Europe and the Near East but has been introduced to the western United States and Canada. Its rapid expansion in North America is characteristic of an invasive species. Due to the variation in habitat, their diet consists of small arthropods including Collembola, Diptera, earthworms, mites, and spiders.
Nebria brevicollis
Long and large wings protected by the strong exoskeleton of N. brevicollis
Composition of the soil on which Nebria brevicollis walks