Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Listing of the Miami Blue Butterfly as Endangered, and Proposed Listing of the Cassius Blue, Ceraunus Blue, and Nickerbean Blue Butterflies as Threatened Due to Similarity of Appearance to the Miami Blue Butterfly

Zusammenfassung

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). An emergency rule listing this subspecies as endangered for 240 days is published concurrently in this issue of the Federal Register. We also propose to list the cassius blue butterfly (Leptotes cassius theonus), ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus antibubastus), and nickerbean blue butterfly (Cyclargus ammon) as threatened due to similarity of appearance to the Miami blue, with a special rule pursuant to section 4(d) of the Act. We solicit additional data, information, and comments that may assist us in making a final decision on this proposed action.