The Xerces blue butterfly was first described in 1852. It was native to the sand dunes on the San Francisco Peninsula. They depended on eating plants of the genus Lotus and Lupinus. It is believed that the caterpillars/larval phase of this butterfly species relied on the Lotus plant to develop. The Lotus plant grew in the sand dunes and was vulnerable with the urbanization of the San Francisco region. The Xerces blue butterfly was the first butterfly species in the United States to go extinct because of humans. The last specimen was observed in 1941 in the area now known as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 10 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Xerces blue butterfly might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from specimens kept at 3 different museums. While it could possibly be a candidate for de-extinction. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation was established after the extinction of the Xerces blue butterfly to help protect other invertebrates. Much has been done to reestablish the native areas for other insects in the San Francisco area since the blue butterfly extinction in 1941. If the Xerces blue butterfly was brought back from extinction, could it survive in San Francisco, USA today?