Many people know about butterflies and their elegance and beauty. As many people know, they are many species of butterfly. Despite the increasing number of insects throughout the world and having 40% of the world’s species fall under their class and 83% under their phylum there are still some endangered insects. Furthermore there are endangered butterflies, on of which is the Karner Blue Butterfly. Between the span of the early 1980s and 1995 the population numbers decreased from 3,000-5,000 to 50 wild Karner Blue Butterflies. They were federally listed as endangered in 1992
Karner Blues are small butterflies with a wingspan of approximately an inch. The upper surface of all four wings is a deep violet-blue fringed with white, in male Karner Blue Butterflies. In the female, the upper surface is a dusky brownish blue with orange spots on the edge of the hindwing. Near the edge of the female’s hind wings are a pale silver with white-ringed black spots and rows of bright orange and blue marking, the males do not share these markings. The half an inch Karner Blue Caterpillar’s coloration matches the green that pigments most vegetation and covered with fine hairs. The Karner Blue Butterfly happens to be the state butterfly of New Hampshire, it would be devastating if New Hampshire were to loose it’s beautiful butterfly mascot.
There are two generations per year for Karner Blues. The first generation of the year takes place in May-mid June. The Females of this generation lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves and stems of the Blue Lupine plant. The adults of the second generation of the year emerge around mid July-early August. The cycle repeats as the females of this generation lay eggs that will hatch in next years May. Karner Blue caterpillars feed only on wild blue lupine plant leaves, greatly limiting their number of possibly habitats. The limited habitats have been further reduced due to lack of natural disturbance, such as large grazing animals and wildfires, and land development. Disturbances such as wildfire help maintain the butterfly's habitat by setting back invading forests. Encouraging the growth of lupine plants.
The butterfly tend to inhabit areas of dry open woods with sandy areas and clearings supporting wild blue lupine. This type of habitat is usually associated with pitch pine/scrub oak or oak savanna communities that are maintained by fire at an early stage of plant succession. Despite their lack of habitat making them rare, the Karner Blue butterfly are very beautiful. These qualities make them extremely valuable to butterfly collectors. As small as a couple of butterfly collectors catching a few Karner Blues can cause serious damage to the species at this point.
Sources:
Foundation, World Wildlife. "Priority Butterflies." Endangered Butterflies | Critically Endangered Butterfly Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
"Karner Blue Butterfly Fact Sheet." Karner Blue Butterfly Fact Sheet - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.
"Saving the Karner Blue Butterfly | Wildlife Journal Junior." Wildlife Journal Junior. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
Karner Blues are small butterflies with a wingspan of approximately an inch. The upper surface of all four wings is a deep violet-blue fringed with white, in male Karner Blue Butterflies. In the female, the upper surface is a dusky brownish blue with orange spots on the edge of the hindwing. Near the edge of the female’s hind wings are a pale silver with white-ringed black spots and rows of bright orange and blue marking, the males do not share these markings. The half an inch Karner Blue Caterpillar’s coloration matches the green that pigments most vegetation and covered with fine hairs. The Karner Blue Butterfly happens to be the state butterfly of New Hampshire, it would be devastating if New Hampshire were to loose it’s beautiful butterfly mascot.
There are two generations per year for Karner Blues. The first generation of the year takes place in May-mid June. The Females of this generation lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves and stems of the Blue Lupine plant. The adults of the second generation of the year emerge around mid July-early August. The cycle repeats as the females of this generation lay eggs that will hatch in next years May. Karner Blue caterpillars feed only on wild blue lupine plant leaves, greatly limiting their number of possibly habitats. The limited habitats have been further reduced due to lack of natural disturbance, such as large grazing animals and wildfires, and land development. Disturbances such as wildfire help maintain the butterfly's habitat by setting back invading forests. Encouraging the growth of lupine plants.
The butterfly tend to inhabit areas of dry open woods with sandy areas and clearings supporting wild blue lupine. This type of habitat is usually associated with pitch pine/scrub oak or oak savanna communities that are maintained by fire at an early stage of plant succession. Despite their lack of habitat making them rare, the Karner Blue butterfly are very beautiful. These qualities make them extremely valuable to butterfly collectors. As small as a couple of butterfly collectors catching a few Karner Blues can cause serious damage to the species at this point.
Sources:
Foundation, World Wildlife. "Priority Butterflies." Endangered Butterflies | Critically Endangered Butterfly Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
"Karner Blue Butterfly Fact Sheet." Karner Blue Butterfly Fact Sheet - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.
"Saving the Karner Blue Butterfly | Wildlife Journal Junior." Wildlife Journal Junior. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.