Northern Blue — wisconsinbutterflies.org Page 1 of 6

Wisconsin Butterflies

z butterflies z tiger beetles z robber flies

Search species Northern Blue Lycaeides idas

The Northern Blue has been found only in the far northeastern counties in Wisconsin. The ‘Karner’ Melissa Blue is a very similar species that was not listed in the 1970 book, “Butterflies of Wisconsin” by Ebner. Several records of the Northern Blue that were referred to in that book were probably of that species. The larvae host plant of the Northern Blue is Dwarf Bilberry (Vaccinium caespitosum), while that of the Karner Blue is Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis). The habitats and general distributions of these plants are very different and it is unlikely that both would be found in the same area.

Weekly sightings for Northern Blue

Identifying characteristics

Above, the male is a light blue with a thin black margin and a light fringe. The female is a black towards the margins with varying amounts of blue on both wings and submarginal orange spots that may even be absent in some individuals. Mo Nielsen in his “Michigan Butterflies & Skippers” has a photo of a female that has no orange spots above. Underneath the sexes are essentially the same, a light gray background, very prominent black spots, and a row of silvery spots topped by orange and then black crescents. Notice that extremely worn individuals, like the bottom one with no fringe left at all, may have no obvious orange spots below.

Similar species

In Wisconsin this species could be confused with the ‘Karner’ Melissa Blue, but the ranges of these species do not overlap and they are not found in the same habitat. The Karner Blue is found close to populations of Lupine, the larval host of the Karner Blue, while the Northern Blue is a butterfly of the far northern counties and whose host plant is Dwarf Bilberry. The main differences between these

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/57-northern-blue 6/5/2009 Northern Blue — wisconsinbutterflies.org Page 2 of 6

species appears to be that the orange crescents on the wings below are smaller and less intense on the Northern Blue, and that the female of the Northern Blue above has much less orange than that of the Karner Blue. Unfortunately, there are many photos that exist online and in books that are simply impossible to identify accurately without knowing where the photos were taken. These two species would cause more identification problems than female Dun Skippers, Northern Broken-Dash, and Little Glassywings if they occurred together.

Habitat

Open pine forests where its host plant Dwarf Bilberry (Vaccinium caespitosum) occurs. The host plant is also a Wisconsin endangered species.

Flight

The Northern Blue is single-brooded with individuals flying mainly from late June to the middle of July.

Abundance

Rare in Wisconsin. This species is listed as endangered by the Wisconsin DNR and as threatened in Michigan where it is found only in upper Michigan and on Isle Royale. In Wisconsin there are only 4-5 known sites where this species currently exists.

Early Northern Blue Sightings

Date County Reported by Jun 27, 2008 Marinette Ann & Scott Swengel Jun 27, 2008 Oconto Ann & Scott Swengel Jul 1, 2007 Marinette Ann & Scott Swengel Jul 5, 2006 Marinette Mike Reese Jul 16, 2008 Marinette Mike Reese

Locations

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/57-northern-blue 6/5/2009 Northern Blue — wisconsinbutterflies.org Page 3 of 6

Gossamer-wing Butterflies | Blues

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Same indiviual as above male.

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/57-northern-blue 6/5/2009 Northern Blue — wisconsinbutterflies.org Page 4 of 6

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Male.

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Female.

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/57-northern-blue 6/5/2009 Northern Blue — wisconsinbutterflies.org Page 5 of 6

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 16, 2008.

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Male.

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/57-northern-blue 6/5/2009 Northern Blue — wisconsinbutterflies.org Page 6 of 6

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 16, 2008.

Click to enlarge

NE of Goodman, WI. July 16, 2008.

Show lightbox

© 2009 wisconsinbutterflies.org | contact | about

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/57-northern-blue 6/5/2009