BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Callophrys affinis
Immaculate Green Hairstreak
| Scientific Name: | Callophrys affinis |
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| English Name: | Immaculate Green Hairstreak |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S2S3 |
| Date Status Assigned: | January 20, 2020 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | January 20, 2020 |
| Reasons: | |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | E = 5,000-20,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The subspecies is known from a restricted range in the southern interior. The range extent is estimated at 20,000 square km (Guppy and Shepard 2001). |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | U = Unknown |
| Linear Distance of Occupancy: | U = Unknown |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | BC = 6 - 80 |
| Comments: | This species is known from Oyama (4 miles north); Summerland (4 miles southwest of Summerland on Shingle Creek road); Vernon; Goose Lake (south end of the lake); Vernon; Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park; Cosens Bay, White Lake and Chopaka (iNaturalist observations). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | The number of occurences with good viability is unknown. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Comments: | Kalamalka Provincial Park |
| Population Size: | U = Unknown |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | The species is found in dry gullies, and thus it may occur in areas where cattle/livestock could take refuge from heat. The species tends to remain close to its foodplant, in sagebrush and meadow habitats on the tops of low hills, and males return to the same perch after being disturbed (St. John, pers comm). Hence, it may be affected by local disturbances. The species is also threatened by urban/rural land conversion, livestock grazing, invasive species, and climate change. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | D = Decline of 50-70% |
| Comments: | The species is known to occur in the xeric valley bottoms of the Okanagan and southern interior regions. The species at the northernmost extension of its global range in Canada, making it more susceptible to climatic extremes that cause flowering failure in nectar sources, local outbreaks of disease, predator and parasitoid populations, and the localized application of pesticides. More specifically the threats are agricultural or urban development and gravel quarrying. The larval and nectar food plants occur within areas under development pressure, and the overall decrease in available habitat contributes to the decline of the species; all terrain vehicle traffic, gravel slopes and embankments are favourable locations for all terrain vehicle use, and lead to erosion and slope instability, as well as direct destruction of larval and nectar food plants; natural processes such as wild fires; noxious weeds; intensive grazing of foodplants and consequential trampling of foodplants, and indirect harm to foodplants as a result of pesticide use. Competition of invasive weed species may impact larval and nectar food plants. |
| Long-Term Trend: | D = Decline of 50-70% |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | C=Not intrinsically vulnerable |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | Butterflies require specific larval and nectar (adult) foodplants for their survival. This species is known to use Erigonum spp. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Specific habitat requirements (food plant density, size and habitat requirements), dispersal capabilities and recolonization capabilities, reproductive success, population viability and additional life history information. Research to assess the potential impacts of predation, parasitism, climatic variation, small population size, and population isolation and the effects of wild fire; clarify the threats to the species. Research into the life history. |
| Inventory Needs: | Inventory of butterflies in the southern interior dry valleys. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | This species should be recorded and monitored when known to occur in parks and protected areas. |
| Management: | Best management practices guidelines for right-of-way maintenance crews, private landowners, ranchers and local citizens. This species may be a candidate for inclusion in the BC Identified Wildlife Management Strategy under the BC Forest and Range Practices Act. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Ramsay, L. and Heron, J. |
| Date: | January 20, 2020 |
| References | |
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Guppy, C.S., and J.H. Shepard. 2001. Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press in collaboration with Royal B.C. Mus. 414pp.
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iNaturalist. Website. Available: http://www.inaturalist.org/
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Layberry, R. A., P. W. Hall, and J. D. LaFontaine. 1998. The butterflies of Canada. University of Toronto Press. 280pp. + color plates.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2020. Conservation Status Report: Callophrys affinis. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).