SAVING THE CASEY’S JUNE BEETLE

Around twilight, Casey’s June beetles emerge from sandy soils near Palm Springs, California, to mate. Between late March and June, males fly swiftly above the ground searching for female beetles. But unfamiliar lights and disorienting bodies of water increasingly seem to interfere. With Southern California’s decades of explosive growth, male Casey’s June beetles are often found ensnared in suburban swimming pools or otherwise distracted by miles upon miles of artificial outdoor lighting.

The Center is committed to protecting the Southwest’s fragile desert habitats, home to an amazing array of unique species. The Casey’s June beetle is one such unique species, adapted to living in a handful of southern California’s arid alluvial plains. But habitat destruction due to urban, residential, and recreational development threatens the beetles. Dwindling numbers and vanishing habitat are key reasons why, in 2004, the Center and the Sierra Club petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an emergency listing for the species.

In 2007, the Service finally determined that the Casey’s June beetle merited protection under the Endangered Species Act. But it did not receive this protection and was instead placed on the “candidate list,” along with 278 other species awaiting further action by the Bush administration.