Uncompahgre Fritillary - An Endangered Pollinator

The Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly is an endangered pollinator that lives in isolated alpine habitats in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, at Mt. Uncompahgre and Redcloud Peak. These butterflies are found only on northeast-facing slopes, which are the coolest and wettest microhabitats available. The distinct patterns on their wings are multi-colored with tan, orange, brown, and black. They emerge for a few weeks following the snowmelt at high elevation mountain peaks. As climate change affects their limited habitat, their specialized evolution for this habitat becomes a liability. The colors on the left side of the butterfly symbolize a fantasy memory of an almost-extinct species.