Callippe Silverspot & Anise Swallowtail on Poppies: Wings over Gold

The shy and elusive Callippe Silverspot butterfly (Speyeria callippe callippe) alights on a golden poppy at the corner of Main Street and Del Valley Parkway. Often darting between patches of wildflowers and host plants, it uses camouflage and quick escape to evade predators. The Callippe Silverspot is a federally endangered species native to California. Its survival is intricately linked to the presence of its sole larval host plant: California golden violet (Viola pedunculata), commonly known as Johnny Jump-up. While the larvae depend solely on California golden violet, adult Callippe Silverspot life span of two to three weeks requires nectar from various native and non-native plants and open space.

Pleasanton’s Callippe Golf Course and the surrounding 280 acres of open space, including 173 acres owned by the City, have been designated for conservation. This land is managed to maintain native grasslands and oak woodlands, providing a stable environment for the butterfly and other local wildlife.

In recognition of its environmental efforts, Callippe Preserve Golf Course has been certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary while integrating conservation into community development.

Artist Bianca Nandzik’s bold brush strokes unveil another butterfly. Not furtive or darting, the Anise Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio zelicaon) relies on disruption by using its bold black patterns to break up the butterfly’s outline as it rests on a golden poppy. Its coloration mimics the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). This resemblance helps protect it by tricking predators into avoiding it, thinking it might be harmful. It is an example Batesian mimicry. Its adult lifespan is 2-3 months.

Bianca Nandzik is an artist born and raised in Germany, now based in San Francisco. She’s one of the contributing artists to Pleasanton’s Project Paint Box, a public art initiative aimed at beautifying utility boxes throughout the city. She chose the California poppy to symbolize the Bay Area’s natural heritage and drought-adaptability, and depicted the resilient Anise Swallowtail butterfly and the sensitive Callippe Silverspot in colorful acrylic paints.

Bianca has adopted the name “ENTROPY” for her artistic identity because it captures the themes she explores of decay, transformation, and creative regeneration. It is the story of the cycle of life and the fragile essence of nature.

Jan Coleman-Knight