[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11256]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Finding on 
Petition and Initiation of Status Review of 27 Foreign Butterflies

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of petition finding and status review.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the 90-day 
finding that a petition to add seven kinds of foreign butterflies to 
the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife has presented 
substantial information indicating that the action may be warranted. A 
status review of these butterflies, together with 20 others that may be 
of similar concern, is initiated.

DATES: The finding announced herein was made on May 2, 1994. Comments 
and information may be submitted until September 7, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments, information, and questions should be submitted to 
the Chief, Office of Scientific Authority; Mail Stop: room 725, 
Arlington Square; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Washington, DC 20240 
(Fax number 703-358-2276). Express and messenger-delivered mail should 
be addressed to the Office of Scientific Authority; room 750, 4401 
North Fairfax Drive; Arlington, Virginia 22203. The petition finding, 
supporting data, and comments will be available for public inspection, 
by appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the 
Arlington, Virginia address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Charles W. Dane, Chief, Office of 
Scientific Authority, at the above address (phone 703-358-1708).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended, requires that within 90 days of receipt of a 
petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species, or to revise a 
critical habitat designation, a finding be made on whether the petition 
has presented substantial information indicating that the requested 
action may be warranted, and that such finding be published promptly in 
the Federal Register. If the finding is positive, section 4(b)(3) also 
requires commencement of a review of the status of the involved 
species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) now announces a 
90-day finding on a recently received petition.
    The petition was submitted by Ms. Dee E. Warenycia of Roseville, 
California. It was dated January 1, 1994, and was received by the 
Service on January 10, 1994. It requests that the following seven kinds 
of foreign swallowtail butterflies be added to the List of Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife (50 CFR 17.11); Teinopalpus imperialis, 
Eurytides marcellinus, Eurytides lysithous harrisianus, Parides 
ascanius, Parides hahneli, Troides (=Ornithoptera) meridionalis, and 
Papilio esperanza. It was accompanied by appropriate detailed data 
sheets from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red Data Book 
Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World (by N. Mark Collins and 
Michael G. Morris, 1985). The seven butterflies are classified therein 
as endangered, vulnerable, or rare, mainly because of environmental 
disruption and overcollection.
    Of the petitioned species, Teinopalpus imperialis is reportedly 
threatened by overcollecting and rapid destruction of the Himalayan 
mountain forests upon which it depends. Eurytides marcellinus has a 
very restricted breeding habitat in Jamaica, where its larval 
foodplants are being destroyed by cultivation. Eurytides lysithous 
harrisianus has been eliminated by habitat destruction from all but one 
known site in southeastern Brazil, which itself is now under 
development. Parides ascanius is jeopardized by the drainage and 
development of its subcoastal swamp habitat near Rio de Janeiro. 
Parides hahneli is known only from three localities in Amazonian 
Brazil, with very specialized habitat, and is threatened by 
overcollection for commercial purposes. Troides meridionalis is 
threatened by the lumbering of its specialized rainforest habitat in 
New Guinea. Papilio esperanza is known only from one site in the cloud 
forest of Oaxaca, Mexico, and is vulnerable to overcollection.
    The Service has examined the petition and supporting data, finds 
that substantial information has been presented indicating that the 
requested listing of the seven taxa of butterflies may be warranted, 
and now initiates a status review of these butterflies. In addition, 
the Service will take this opportunity to review the 20 other kinds of 
foreign swallowtail butterflies that are classified as endangered or 
vulnerable by the IUCN, and that are not now on the U.S. List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Therefore, a total of 27 
swallowtail butterflies, as designated in the accompanying table, is 
now under review.

              Table.--Swallowtail Butterflies Under Review              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Name                                 Range          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teinopalpus imperialis......................  Himalayas.                
Eurytides marcellinus.......................  Jamaica.                  
Eurytides lysithous harrisianus.............  Brazil.                   
Eurytides iphitas...........................  Brazil.                   
Graphium levassori..........................  Comoro Islands.           
Graphium sandawanum.........................  Philippines.              
Battus zetides..............................  Hispaniola.               
Parides ascanius............................  Brazil.                   
Parides hahneli.............................  Brazil.                   
Parides burchellanus........................  Brazil.                   
Parides (Atrophaneura) jophon...............  Sri Lanka.                
Parides (Atrophaneura) schadenberqi.........  Philippines.              
Troides dohertyi............................  Talaud                    
                                              (Indonesia).              
Troides (Ornithoptera) meridionalis.........  New Guinea.               
Troides (Ornithoptera) croesus..............  Moluccas                  
                                              (Indonesia).              
Papilio esperanza...........................  Mexico.                   
Papilio himeros.............................  Brazil.                   
Papilio maraho..............................  Taiwan.                   
Papilio osmana..............................  Philippines.              
Papilio carolinensis........................  Philippines.              
Papilio moerneri............................  New Ireland               
                                              (Papua New Guinea).       
Papilio benguetanus.........................  Philippines.              
Papilio phorbanta...........................  Reunion Island.           
Papilio desmondi teita......................  Kenya.                    
Papilio morondavana.........................  Madagascar.               
Papilio leucotaenia.........................  Central Africa.           
Papilio leucotaenia.........................  Central Africa.           
Papilio neumoegeni..........................  Sumba                     
                                              (Indonesia).              
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Service encourages the submission of appropriate data, 
opinions, and publications regarding these butterflies, as well as 
other kinds of foreign swallowtails that may warrant consideration for 
addition to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. In 
accordance with section 4(b)(3) of the Act, within 12 months of receipt 
of the petition, the Service will make another finding as to whether 
the requested listing of seven kinds of butterflies is warranted, not 
warranted, or warranted but precluded by other listing measures, and 
may also announce decisions with respect to other kinds of butterflies.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.

    Dated: May 2, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-11256 Filed 5-9-94; 8:45 am]
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