The Fender’s blue butterfly is found only in Oregon’s Willamette Valley – a 150-mile long region in the state that stretches from Portland to Eugene – says the service.

The Fender's blue butterfly is found only in Oregon's Willamette Valley -- a 150-mile long region in the state that stretches from Portland to Eugene -- says the service.

A 93-year-old Xerces blue specimen’s DNA shows that the butterfly is a distinct species, making it the first U.S. insect humans drove to extinction.

The insect, the Xerces blue butterfly, died out in the mid-20th century as a result of pronounced habitat loss, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

“The Xerces blue butterfly was the first insect in the United States that was documented to be driven to extinction by human activities,” said Corrie Moreau, director of the Cornell University ...

A butterfly that went extinct decades ago after the destruction of its Bay Area habitat is now the driving force behind its restoration with the help of a close relative now fluttering in its terrain.

The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the Fender’s blue butterfly’s status will officially be changed from “endangered” to “threatened” on Feb. 13.