BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Boloria astarte distincta
Astarte Fritillary, distincta subspecies
| Scientific Name: | Boloria astarte distincta |
|---|---|
| English Name: | Astarte Fritillary, distincta subspecies |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S2S3 |
| Date Status Assigned: | January 15, 2007 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | March 31, 2021 |
| Reasons: | This species only occurs in the northwestern corner of the province, and this is the southernmost extent of its range. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | E = 5,000-20,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The range extent is approximately 15,000 square km in the Atlin area at the Yukon border. The species range is likely larger and there is much unchecked habitat. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | U = Unknown |
| Linear Distance of Occupancy: | U = Unknown |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | AB = 1 - 20 |
| Comments: | There are about four element occurrences for this species in the northwest corner of BC, in the Atlin area including Monarch Mountain (4 km northwest of Union Mountain) and Tootsee Ridge (limestone ridge, low alpine area) (Guppy 2006). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | The species has few threats to its habitat. The species typically inhabit scree slopes, rock cliffs and other alpine areas above timberline (Guppy and Shepard 2001) and rockslides, and are in windy habitats in alpine areas (Layberry et al. 1998). |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Monarch Mountain is now within a BC Parks Conservancy (Monarch Mountain/A Xeegi Deiyi Conservancy) established June 2012, but the butterfly is not mentioned in the conservancy management plan (BC Parks 2016). There is much unchecked habitat in the adjacent Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park. |
| Population Size: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | No information is available on population sizes of B.a.distincta |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | CD = Medium - low |
| Comments: | Mining and mineral exploration are a possible threat. Camping and hiking are present near Atlin. This habitat is abundant in this region of the province. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | U=Unknown |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | The larvae are known to feed upon Saxifraga tricuspidata (Guppy and Shepard 2001). |
| Other Rank Considerations: | Few occurrences in northern BC, may be at the southernmost extension of the subspecies range. |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Research food plant density and patch size; species' dispersal capabilities, reproductive success and population viability; potential impacts of predation, parasitism, climatic variation, small population size, and population isolation is also needed. Research is required to assess the potential threats to habitat from grazing, invasive weeds, and wild fire. Research into life history, and food plant clarification. |
| Inventory Needs: | Inventory in subalpine and alpine habitats in northern BC. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | This species should be noted in parks and protected areas. |
| Management: | Since this species is known to occur at forest edges and openings (Layberry et al. 1998) it may be a candidate for listing under the Forest and Range Practices Act Identified Wildlife Management Strategy. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Marks, D. |
| Date: | March 15, 2021 |
| References | |
|
BC Parks. 2016. Monarch Mountain/A Xeegi Deiyi Conservancy Management Plan. Report for Taku River Tinglit First Nation and BC Parks. 32 pp.
|
|
|
Guppy, C. 2006. Guppy's Lepidoptera observation database.
|
|
|
Guppy, C.S., and J.H. Shepard. 2001. Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press in collaboration with Royal B.C. Mus. 414pp.
|
|
|
Layberry, R. A., P. W. Hall, and J. D. LaFontaine. 1998. The butterflies of Canada. University of Toronto Press. 280pp. + color plates.
|
|
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. 2021. Conservation Status Report: Boloria astarte distincta. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 8, 2026).