Karner Blue Butterfly By: Bella Laybourn

What is a Butterfly? Diurnal (Active in Daytime) Clubbed antennae Slender body Large, broad, often conspicuously marked wings. 4 stages of Life – Egg, larva, pupa and adult Caterpillar produces sweet liquid that ants feed on; ants help with protection

Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Lycaeides Species: Lycaeides melissa Subspecies: Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Karner Blue Characteristics 1 inch wingspan (Size of postage stamp) Male is silvery and Bright blue with narrow black margins. Female is grayish brown on outer portions of wings, dark blue on topside and irregular bands of orange crescents inside narrow black border. Underside of both male and female same with gray and a continuous band of orange crescents along edges of wings and scattered black spots circled with white. Belong to large family called gossamer – winged butterflies (very delicate) Females lay eggs on or near wild blue lupines – only food that Karner Blue Larvae eat

Habitat Found mostly in Northern and eastern U.S. (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin) Adults feed on nectar of flowering plants. larvae require wild Blue lupine for survival (only plant they eat and restricts where they can be found). Lupines grow in dry, sandy soil with not too much shade or sun.

Reasons Endangered Habitat destruction and Degradation Disappearance of Wild blue Lupines due to land developments and croplands Lack of natural disturbances such as wild fires to set back encroaching forests allowing Lupine and flowering plant growth Collection – Rarity and beauty of butterfly make it desirable (Illegal without permit)

Conservation efforts Listing as endangered species (1992) Recovery Plan implemented by Dept. of Fish and Wildlife prioritizing actions to conserve and restore species. Extensive Research being conducted in U.S. and Canada Aggressive Habitat management and Protection efforts supporting wild lupine and nectar plants Wisconsin Habitat Conservation Plan ensures that human activities do not adversely affect butterfly habitat Reintroductions - zoos raising larvae and releasing them to suitable environments Karner Blue Festivals raising awareness

What you can do to help Volunteer at a nearby zoo, nature center, or National Wildlife Refuge. Join a local conservation group Plant a garden with flowers that attract butterflies. Use native plants in your lawn and gardens.

Why we care loss of species is continuing at an alarming and unexpected rate. every species has a valuable role in the balance of nature and each loss destabilizes that balance. Once a species is extinct, it is lost forever. Many plants and animals have properties that will benefit humans as sources of food and medicine. With the loss of each species, we lose a potential resource for improving life for all humanity. plants and animal species may tell us if the environment is healthy. The Karner Blue butterfly’s disappearance tells us that something is wrong. Protecting pine barrens will affect not only the fate of the Karner Blue butterfly, but also that of many other plants and animals as well.

Feeding of a Karner Blue Butterfly

Sources Gray, Susan H. “Road to Recovery – Karner Blue Butterfly” ( 2008) Department of U.S. Fish & Wildlife butterflyrecovery.org dictionary.com Wikipedia

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