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Welcome!

to the Island Marble Butterfly Hub—a place for volunteers and island marble butterfly (IMB) partners alike to share information for events, trainings, best management practices, and current IMB status

The Island Marble Butterfly Volunteer Program (IMBVP) is dedicated to the creation, restoration, maintenance and enhancement of IMB habitat. It is estimated that 200–500 IMBs remain today. In 2020, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the IMB as an endangered species. Volunteers are needed to conserve habitat for this endemic butterfly to prevent its extinction and conserve biodiversity.

IMB HABITAT

The IMB has a narrow, endemic range. Nearly the entire subspecies is limited to only American Camp (San Juan Island National Historical Park or SJINHP, pictured) and Cattle Point on San Juan Island. A flush of IMB host plants can be seen here, Field Mustard or Brassica rapa, awaiting adult female butterflies to lay their eggs. This habitat can provide the IMB with its needs to survive, reproduce, and pass on its genes to the next generation.

Photo credit: Jenny Shrum

CHRYSALIS

IMBs spend most of their lives as pupae for inside chrysalises emerging only for a short week or so as an adult butterfly.

ADULT ISLAND MARBLE

An adult IMB perched on a host plant. April through June is the only time of year when adults are flying.

HABITAT EXPANSION

Following population decline in the late 2000s, there is urgent need to expand IMB habitat to prevent extinction.

Photo credits, left to right: Shrum, Shrum, Walt Andrews

Mission: Expand habitat to prevent extinction, down list, and delist the IMB

OUR GOAL

Expanding habitat to prevent extinction and further the recovery of the island marble butterfly.

Photo credit: Shrum

DISCOVER

Learn about the dynamic ecology of this endemic butterfly and the biological diversity of the San Juan Islands.

CONSERVE

Help protect and maintain habitat. Get involved! Volunteer your skills, expertise, or time. Add habitat or donate.

CHANGE

Expand and connect IMB habitat to increase the number of IMBs and the number of populations. Be a part of IMB recovery!

Photo and map credits, left to right: Shrum, SJPT, and Walt Andrews, Google Maps 2023 TerraMetrics

We must act now to prevent the island marble butterfly's extinction.

VOLUNTEER ADD HABITAT DONATE

Art credit: Jill Bliss

Volunteer for the IMB!

If you are interested in helping with IMB recovery efforts, please sign up below to receive updates about ways you can get involved through volunteer events and activities.

Sign up with if you are an individual, family, group, or business looking to get involved with IMB habitat conservation. All experience levels, ages, or skill levels are welcome.

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the conservation and recovery of the IMB. All volunteers are an important part of IMB stewardship.

Stay in Touch!

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This program does not discriminate based on ethnicity, race, class, gender, sex, religion, background, belief, or disability. Please report any and all discrimination to the coordinator.

Island Marble Butterfly Hub