Habitat Conservation Assessment and Conservation Strategy For The Idaho Dunes Tiger Beetle. Report No. 7

Since the 1980's, the Idaho dunes tiger beetle (Federal Category C2) has been under consideration to be listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as a threatened or endangered species. Due to recently proposed changes in priorities and listing protocol within the Service, the C2 designation for candidate species may be eliminated in the near future. However, the dune tiger beetle's designation as an Idaho BLM Sensitive Species will remain in effect indefinitely, providing policy guidance for implementation of this Conservation Strategy on Idaho public lands.

This tiger beetle species is strictly limited to sand dune habitats in Idaho. Many of these dunes are small, scattered or isolated, particularly in Southcentral and Western Idaho, suggesting that the dunes tiger beetle may be more vulnerable to extirpation or habitat disturbances in the long term than are other tiger beetle species.

Currently, there is uncertainty regarding the taxonomy of the Idaho dunes tiger beetle. It is possible though unverified that beetles representing the Bruneau and St. Anthony populations may be separate species or subspecies. It is also possible that the two are distinct biotypes.

This Habitat Conservation Assessment and Strategy has been initiated to reduce threats to the Idaho dunes tiger beetle and to ensure management of sand dune habitats in a manner that provides for the species' life history requirements. The document's primary purpose is to conserve this species and its habitat through the implementation of conservation measures.