Karner Blue Butterfly
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What Does a Karner Look Like? Life Cycle of the Karner Blue Karner Blue Butterfly Facts Wing Characteristics: Complete Metamorphosis The Karner blue butterfly was first identified Under Side: Eggs are laid on as a species by Russian novelist and Orange crescents (at least 4) stems of wild lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov in 1944. along outer edge of fore and blue lupine He named it after the hamlet of Karner in hind wings — more Karner blue butterfly plants. the town of Colonie, NY. pronounced on hind wing. Actual size Latin name: Lycaeides melissa samuelis It was placed on the NY endangered Top Side: species list in 1977 and on the US endangered species list in 1992. They are also found in Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. Adults live for Larvae eat It is threatened by habitat loss caused by Females Males just 3 - 5 days. leaves of wild humans. Climate change may lead to Darker in color, with blue Light blue, with- During this blue lupine for habitat loss in areas that are otherwise close to the body; out any orange time, they drink 3-4 weeks. protected. orange crescents on the crescents nectar from a They are Larvae can only eat leaves of outer edge of hind wings variety of Pupae start out difficult to spot wild blue lupine. flowers, mate, green and because they Don’t be fooled by look-alikes! and lay eggs. gradually turn are the color of Larvae are often “tended” dark blue over lupine leaves. by ants. Few orange No orange crescents crescents a period of 8- They do not migrate and 11 days. seldom travel further than Tails 700 feet during their short lifetimes. Two generations (broods) of Karners complete They survive winter as eggs, aided by an Eastern tailed blue Spring azure their life cycles each year. insulating layer of snow. Karner Blue through the Seasons Spring Brood Summer Brood Winter April May June July Autumn Karner Blue Conservation Suggested Reading and References Historically, wildfires kept the habitat in the Karner Blue Albany Pine Bush open and suitable for wild Barnes, J.K. 2003. Natural History of the Albany Pine blue lupine. Today, however, any wildfire is Bush: Albany and Schenectady Counties, New Butterflies quickly extinguished to protect private York. New York State Museum, Albany, NY. property. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve at the Commission uses prescribed fires that mimic US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015, April 14. natural wildfires to restore and maintain habitat Endangered Species: Midwest Region: Karner Albany Pine Bush Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). suitable for wild blue lupine and the Karner caterpillars that eat it. www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/kbb U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Final Recovery Plan for the Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides Melissa samuelis). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 273 pp. A prescribed fire at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Wild blue lupine in Karner blue butterfly habitat Good News for Karners! Conservation efforts appear to have put TAKING OF BUTTERFLIES IS ILLEGAL, the Karner population at the Albany Pine Bush UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, on the path toward recovery! WITHOUT A PERMIT! An Endangered Species in a Globally Rare, Nationally Significant, and Locally Distinct Ecosystem For further information about the Karner blue butterfly, the Albany Pine Bush, or volunteer 195 New Karner Road Albany, New York 12205 opportunities, please visit 518-456-0655 www.AlbanyPineBush.org www.AlbanyPineBush.org .