Hunting butterflies takes perseverance, excellent eyesight and amble dexterity to look around obstacles; catching them takes the patience of a fisherman plus the agility of an eagle.

Summertime is butterfly season.

“You don’t need a hunting license, but you might need a permit to carry a net,” said David Droppers from the Washington Butterfly Association.

Droppers is working with U.S. Forest Service to survey the Johnson’s Hairstreak (Callophrys Johnson) butterfly, a Washington state-listed species of concern in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

During a presentation Aug. 1 at the Verlot Public Service Center near Granite Falls, Droppers said he also monitors all other butterflies within the survey corridor.  

Phyllis Reed, Forest Service wildlife biologist, said the survey is being conducted to increase knowledge and determine the presence, habitat and life cycle of butterflies on our forest.

“Butterflies play a key role as pollinators, fertilizing wild and cultivated plants,” Reed said.

Researchers worry that butterfly populations may be in decline. Flying insects are sensitive to their habitat and are viewed as the “canary in the coal mine” in signaling environmental change.

“Spotting butterflies is hard, but once you focus on the signs and habits you start to notice them,” Droppers said. “Look for what they eat; each species of butterfly has a unique diet or a specific place to lay their eggs.”

For instance, he said the Johnson’s Hairstreak will lay its eggs in dwarf mistletoe, which is a parasite on old growth Western Hemlock.

Knowing these habits makes the job easier, but documenting and monitoring butterflies can still be difficult. The search window for butterflies is narrow and their life cycle can be very short, according to Droppers.

“The Johnson’s Hairstreak will only live for two weeks as an adult,” Droppers said. “About two percent of all eggs laid will survive to adulthood. Weather, predators and food all play factors in their survival.”

Adding to the difficulty is their flight habits. Johnson’s Hairstreak usually flies high up in the tree’s canopy, coming down only for food and water.

“You need to be ready to spot the butterflies on the ground, for catching them requires speed and agility,” he said.

Droppers uses two distinct methods to capture butterflies: a quick scoop and flip while in flight; or dropping the net over them while they are resting.

“Over time, the net becomes an extension of your arm, making it easier to catch butterflies,” he said.

Droppers said he always releases the butterflies he catches unless he needs to identify a new species.

“The best way to determining the sex and species is by dissecting them,” he said.

David became hooked on the species after stepping into the butterfly exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo to photograph them. He began to identify the butterflies in his photos and wanted to learn more.

The first year of the Johnson’s Hairstreak survey is completed.

“Didn’t get any dwarf mistletoe. All the trees are still pretty young and healthy,” Droppers said. “Never saw the Johnson’s Hairstreak, but failure to detect does not mean an absence on the forest. It is a very rare butterfly with small colonies and very scattered.” 

Kelly Sprute works in the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie Public Affairs office of the U.S. Forest Service.