1. Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery at the Eastern Edge of Its Range R. Niver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service K. O’Brien, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation N. Gifford, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission C. Zimmerman, The Nature Conservancy M. Amaral, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2. Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)

3. first hatch in April Second brood eggs hatch in 5-10 days 1 st flight late May into June Adults live average of 3-5 days Larvae feed on lupine Pupate in May/June 2 nd flight in July/August Eggs overwinter on base of lupine or nearby grasses Lay eggs Bivoltine Lay eggs

4. Similar Looking Species Eastern tailed blue Spring azureKarner blue butterfly ventral surfaceventral surfaceventral surface (www.google/images)(www.google/images) (K. Breisch)www.google/images

5. Biological Planning Status Federally listed as endangered in 1992 Conservation Objective Restore viable metapopulations of Karner blues across the species extant range so that it can be reclassified from endangered to threatened and then ultimately delisted (2003 Recovery Plan) Improve species status (2009 Spotlight Species Plan) Threats Loss and/or fragmentation of habitat due to: succession (due to lack of management ) commercial, industrial, and residential development Mammal/insect damage to lupine Stochastic events such as droughts and cool springs Changes in snowpack Pesticide use

6. >90% decline in NY since the 1970s -forest succession -development

7. Biological Planning/Conservation Design Federal recovery plan completed 2003 Region 3 Spotlight Species- Action Plan completed September 2009 NYSDEC developing recovery plan Various management plans

8. Recovery Units

9. 4 Recovery Areas/Populations

10. Recovery Criteria Reclassification criteria will be met when a minimum of 27 metapopulations [19 viable metapopulations (supporting 3,000 butterflies each), and 8 large viable metapopulations (supporting 6,000 butterflies each)] are established within at least 13 recovery units across the butterfly’s range and are being managed consistent with the recovery objectives outlined in this plan. Delisting will be considered when a minimum of 29 metapopulations (13 viable and 16 large viable metapopulations) have been established within at least 13 recovery units and are being managed consistent with the plan.

11. Metapop. Recovery Criteria Key Ecological Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGoodVery Good Population sizeTotal number of individuals≤3,8203,820-7,6407,641-12,960≥12,960 Number of viable subpopulations≤12-45-9>9 Habitat suitabilityTotal acres of suitable habitat<160160-319320-638≥640 Habitat suitabilityTotal lupine stems<576,593 576,593 - 769,790 769,790 - 1,153,185 >1,153,185 Connectivity Number of subpopulations with at least 2 connections to other subpopulations 012-3≥4

12. Conservation Delivery- Habitat Protection Albany Pine Bush ~1,000 acres protected since 1992 3,100 acres in Preserve Goal of ~ 5,000 acres in Preserve RLA $$ 24 acres

13. Conservation Delivery- Habitat Protection Saratoga Sandplains ~2,192 acres protected RLA $$ 2 sites- 6 acres

14. Queensbury – 5 acres Saratoga West – 313 acres 293 acres Saratoga County Airport 15 acres Spa State Park 5 acres under management associated with 2 projects Conservation Delivery- Habitat Protection

15. Before Restoration Removal of over-story to improve habitat conditions for wild lupine and native grasses. After Restoration Crew Conservation Delivery - Habitat Restoration

17. Habitat Restoration and Management Habitat Conservation Plan (utility ROWs) in prep Programmatic Safe Harbor with The Nature Conservancy completed 2010 3 successful law enforcement cases settled

18. Monitoring Habitat Lupine stem density Nectar species richness Nectar density Grass cover Canopy cover Karner blues P/A surveys Transects Distance Sampling (population estimates)

19. Monitoring - KBB Habitat in Saratoga Sandplains Goal 320 acres suitable habitat 2003 10 acres Currently 127 acres KBB habitat restored/protected 106 monitored 76 suitable

20. Monitoring - KBB Habitat in Albany Pine Bush Spring 2005Spring 2007 Goal- 640 acres suitable habitat 1992-~13.5 acres KBB habitat Currently- 333 acres KBB habitat, 225 acres monitored, 62 acres suitable

21. Private Stewardship Grant Program 2005-2009 4 grants 126.5 acres restored 14 sites 8 colonized by KBB to date

22. Conservation Delivery- Captive Propagation New Hampshire – 1980s 1000s of KBBs – Numbers declined – TNC initiated captive propagation program in 1991 with NH KBB – 1999 24 KBB in wild – KBB extirpated from NH in 2000 – NH Fish and Game initiated intensive program using NY KBB – NH Army National Guard provided building for captive rearing facility – Continues to date Eclosed butterfly drying its wings. Released butterfly with marking on lupine.

23. New Hampshire 1 st Brood Release 2 nd Brood Release 1 st Brood Wild Mark 2 nd Brood Wild Mark 1 st Brood Recapture 2 nd Brood Recapture 2001198n/a 200269n/a 3 20035048n/a 30 2004186743n/a31n/a167 2005316102127154160347 2006797129214914945 2007200703205449301 20082451778586465404 20098963154872603161006 20101632497320278245394 Average294112089127164300

24. Monitoring - KBB Response in Saratoga Sandplains Second Brood Counts - Distance Sampling

25. Monitoring - KBB Response in Albany Pine Bush Second Brood Counts - Distance Sampling 2010 Second Brood Estimates 770-1,100 KBB

26. Conservation Delivery- Captive Propagation New York – Initiated releases in 2008 – NH site is primary facility – Pilot rearing program at Farnsworth Middle School in 2008 – Continues to date

27. **684 kept for mating or released in NH Collected Adult females- FMW – 4/5 put back in wild (1 died in captivity) NH – All eventually died in captivity 3 NY Release Sites New York 2008# female collected in APB # eggs produced # pupae produced # pupae released in NY NH (1 st flight)15252116841000** NH (2 nd flight)20467n/a wintered in NH FMS (1 st flight)55046 Total40303817331046

28. Collected Adult females- FMW – 4/5 put back in wild (1 died in captivity) NH – All eventually died in captivity 2 Release Sites (617 and 45 KBB) New York 2009 # female collected in APB # eggs produced# pupae produced # pupae released in NY NH (2nd flight 2008)20 (July 2008)467118**58 NH (1st flight 2009)10 (May 2009)994604559 NH (2nd flight 2009)15 (July 2009)400n/a wintered in NH FMS (1st flight 2009)5504945 Total501911771662 ** 60 adults retained in NH

29. New York 2010 8 release sites 1,538 pupae/adults released

30. Monitoring GLA Recovery Status Key AttributeIndicatorAPBSSSPSWQSP Population size Number of individuals in the 2nd brood (2010) ~500 wild (Poor) ~1500 release21,000 (VG)1750 (Poor)<100 (Poor) Number of viable subpopulations0 (Poor)2 (Fair)0(Poor) Habitat suitability Total acres of suitable lupine density~62/225102/12926/3061.5/13 Total lupine stems1,280,000 (VG)4,304,854 (VG)105,458 (Poor)14,223 (Poor) Connectivity Number of subpopulations with 2 connections7/12 (VG)0 (Poor)3/7 (poor)2/4 (Poor)

31. Conservation Delivery- Outreach

32. Cooperative Efforts

33. What’s next? Additional land protection Habitat restoration and management Captive propagation and release Monitoring Challenges Providing funding/support to NYSDEC Increased monitoring costs with more and more habitat

34. Thank you! This is a story of hope. While we have expended a great deal of time and funding since listing, we cannot give up now. With persistence, we can meet recovery objectives for this species.