Conservation group seeks Endangered Species Act protections for Arizona beetle

PHOENIX — A national nonprofit conservation group is pursuing federal protections for a rare beetle only found in southeastern Arizona.

The Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition to the Department of the Interior seeking Endangered Species Act protections for the Willcox Playa beetle as a threatened or endangered species.

The beetles are green and brown and half an inch long. They play a key role as both predators and indicators of the habitat’s health, according to the organization.

The beetle is endemic to Willcox Playa in Sulphur Springs Valley, the “largest dry lake” in Arizona, as described by the National Parks Service. It is located in Cochise County.

Lake Cochise used to cover approximately 140 square miles, while the basin now only supports shallow ponds, according to Northern Arizona University. The sparsely vegetated basin hosts migrating sandhill cranes as a roosting site, the second largest in Arizona, along with the greatest diversity of tiger beetles in the United States with at least 17 species, according to the petition.

What risks do the Willcox Playa beetle face in Arizona?

The Willcox Playa tiger beetle population is at risk due to habitat drying caused by climate change, surface water diversion and groundwater pumping, according the Center for Biological Diversity.

“These strikingly beautiful insects emerge from their lakebed burrows during the monsoon season to feast on invertebrates and search for mates,” entomologist Barry Knisley said in a press release. “Unfortunately, climate change and declining groundwater levels are threatening their continued existence on the playa.”

Additionally, the Center for Biological Diversity formally requested the designation of critical habitat for the subspecies, which would require their habitat to be managed and protected.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 establishes protections for flora and fauna listed as threatened or endangered with plans for recovery. More than 2,000 species are listed as endangered or threatened, and the act has saved 99% of protected species, according to conservation groups.

Within 90 days of receiving a petition, the government must publish its finding as to whether or not the information presented suggests action may be warranted.

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