Ways to help

In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed a recovery plan to help save my species. Some of the measures that are taking place to help me survive are:
· Prescribed Fires
· Removal of trees and shrubs
· Reintroduction/Translocation
· Federal Regulatory Protection
· Captive Rearing
These efforts have certainly made a difference in my population, although it is small, I’m glad that something is being done to save us. The goal of the plan is to have full recovery of my species by the year 2023.

I'm in trouble...

Over the past century, my population has declined by a staggering 99 percent! I was added to the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services in 1992.
The main reason for the decline of my species is due to lack of wildfires and grazing of large mammals. You see, wildfires actually help my environments. Wildfires burn trees and shrubs, allowing sunlight to come through and create new grassy areas, where the wild blue lupine flower can grow and sustain my little ones.
Another reason is the clearing of land for the development of commercial, residential and farming purposes. You see, sometimes the needs of your habitat interfere with the needs of my habitat.

My Environment and My Physical Features

I enjoy living in sunny, open areas because they provide the perfect conditions to sustain my caterpillar’s favorite meal- the wild blue lupine flower (Lupinus perennis). In fact, my caterpillar’s like this plant so much that they refuse to eat anything else. Needless to say survivorship of our species depends greatly upon the lupine flower.

What do we look like?

The Karner Blue caterpillar is bright green with a darker green line running down the back.

The Male Karner Blue has inner wings that are purplish-blue color and lined with a white border around the edge.

The Female Karner Blue is slightly larger than the male and it has a grayish-brown color with a patch of blue on the topside. The underside of both, male and females is gray with orange dots along the border of the forewings and hindwings.

We typically have two new generations per year. One generation emerges from late May to June and the second one from late July to August. Adult Karner Blues are known to live from 4-5 days and up to 2-3 weeks.

Let me Introduce myself

As you know, my name if Karner Blue butterfly. My scientific name is Lycaeides melissa samuelis. I was discovered and named by a famous novelist, Vladimir Nabokov.

I live in Pine Barrens and Oak Savannah habitats. I am fairly small, my wingspan is approximately 1 inch long, about the size of a postage stamp!

You can find me in certain areas of Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Many, many years ago I also could be found in Illinois, Missouri and even certain parts of Canada.