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Description
Inktober 2019

Instead of the official Inktober promots, each day of October I will highlight a different underappreciated endangered species. These species are at risk of disappearing forever due to human activity, yet most people have never heard of them.

Day 12 - Sinai Baton Blue, Pseudophilotes sinaicus

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Found only on Mount Sinai in Egypt, the Sinai Mountain Blue is one of the world's smallest butterflies - wings a mere 9.7mm-6.5mm in length, smaller than a human fingernail. This butterfly lays its eggs on the host plant Sinai Thyme (Thymus decussatus), which is also endangered and endemic to the region. Sinai Thyme is considered a medicinal plant and has been over-collected for local use and market sale. It does not have greater medicinal benefit than other, not-endangered plants in the thymus genus, several of which also grow in the region. The Sinai Thyme is extremely sensitive to climate change. Inflorescence (blooming) of Sinai Thyme has decreased 40% in recent years and the Sinai Baton Blue larvae are evolved to feed only from this particular plant. Local government has banned the collection of Sinai Thyme, and erected fences to deter people from collecting the plant anyway. This will help ensure the survival of Sinai Thyme and the Sinai Baton Blue in the short term, but if regional temperatures continue to rise, both species are likely to become extinct.

Description
Inktober 2019

Instead of the official Inktober promots, each day of October I will highlight a different underappreciated endangered species. These species are at risk of disappearing forever due to human activity, yet most people have never heard of them.

Day 12 - Sinai Baton Blue, Pseudophilotes sinaicus

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Found only on Mount Sinai in Egypt, the Sinai Mountain Blue is one of the world's smallest butterflies - wings a mere 9.7mm-6.5mm in length, smaller than a human fingernail. This butterfly lays its eggs on the host plant Sinai Thyme (Thymus decussatus), which is also endangered and endemic to the region. Sinai Thyme is considered a medicinal plant and has been over-collected for local use and market sale. It does not have greater medicinal benefit than other, not-endangered plants in the thymus genus, several of which also grow in the region. The Sinai Thyme is extremely sensitive to climate change. Inflorescence (blooming) of Sinai Thyme has decreased 40% in recent years and the Sinai Baton Blue larvae are evolved to feed only from this particular plant. Local government has banned the collection of Sinai Thyme, and erected fences to deter people from collecting the plant anyway. This will help ensure the survival of Sinai Thyme and the Sinai Baton Blue in the short term, but if regional temperatures continue to rise, both species are likely to become extinct.