Xerces Blue is the first insect species in North America to go extinct due to human activity.
The last sightings of these blue-iridescent butterflies from the San Francisco Peninsula date back to the early 1940s. In 2021, scientists conducted a genetic analysis of a specimen from the Field Museum in Chicago and confirmed that the Xerces Blue is a distinct species, not a population of a similar silvery blue butterfly.
The main cause of extinction was the destruction of its natural habitat due to urbanization. Although the complete genome sequence opens up the theoretical possibility of reviving the species, researchers emphasize that it is much more important to protect currently existing species to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
The extinction of such creatures leads to serious consequences for ecosystems, as insects play a key role in soil aeration and maintaining food chains.
