Posted on 09/21/2002 10:00:33 PM PDT by chance33_98
None. Nada. Nein. Non. Who knows what insignificant critter can give a cure for cancer?
I do. None. Nada. etc.
Federal Status: Endangered
State Status: None
The first fly to receive protection under the Endangered Species Act, the Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly was only recently recognized as endangered. This fly is a nectar feeder as an adult, capable of hovering like a hummingbird as it feeds. The adults are active in August and September during which they feed, mate and lay their eggs. The eggs are laid in the sand. Larvae develop entirely below ground and are probably predaceous.
The Delhi Sands Fly is found only in small parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, at the eastern edge of the Los Angeles Basin, in areas of fine sandy soil, known as Delhi series sands. While formerly widespread, this habitat has been intensively developed in the past century, primarily for agriculture, though more recently for industry and housing. Only an estimated 2-3% of the original habitat remains undeveloped.
The sites where the fly is currently found all lie on private land and are under constant threat of development. The pace of destruction in this area continues to accelerate. Were it not for the 1993 decision to list the Dehli Sands Fly, all habitable areas would probably have been lost already. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently involved in critical negotiations with local governments to protect the remaining areas from disturbance. A habitat conservation plan has been proposed and is currently open for comment. Under this plan eight known or potential sites for the fly would be protected. It would also provide for the establishment of a captive breeding program for the fly.
So development is a threat eh....
Not only that, it's a form of destruction:
The pace of destruction in this area continues to accelerate.
"Destruction" to these people is human beings moving in where flies and garbage used to be. Next thing you know, we're going to have Endangered Garbage.
Now if they just made human sized bug zappers...
Good catch, I missed that one! Destruction to me is when I see trees and weeds taking over a place I could plant corn for the hungry children of ethiopia - do it for the children! (or the liberal creed - do it to the children)
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