Willamette-valley
Guides
Booneacris polita
Willamette wingless grasshopper
Booneacris polita, commonly known as the Willamette wingless grasshopper, is a flightless species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is endemic to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with records primarily from Oregon. As its common name indicates, this species lacks functional wings, a trait that distinguishes it from most other grasshoppers and reflects its adaptation to stable, localized habitats.
Plebejus icarioides fenderi
Fender's blue
Fender's blue is an endangered subspecies of lycaenid butterfly endemic to the Willamette Valley of Oregon, United States. It was federally listed as endangered in 2000. Population numbers declined to fewer than 1,500 individuals in the 1990s but have recovered to 25,000–30,000 through targeted conservation efforts combining scientific research and habitat management. The butterfly engages in a mutualistic relationship with ants, where larvae produce sugary secretions in exchange for protection from predators.