News Animals

This butterfly is the first U.S. insect known to go extinct because of people

DNA from a 93-year-old specimen shows the Xerces blue was its own species, not just a subgroup

a Xerces blue butterfly against a black background

The extinct Xerces blue butterfly (shown) is the first U.S. insect species known to go extinct because of people, a study finds.

Field Museum

By Jake Buehler

- More than 2 years ago

It’s been roughly 80 years since the Xerces blue butterfly was last spotted flitting about on pastel wings across coastal California sand dunes.