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Karner Blue Butterflies: An Endangered Species! - Page 4

© Naomi Mathews

Although the Albany Pine Bush region is likely the most well known habitat of the Karner blue butterfly, another region known as the Saratoga Sand Plains also contains a large population of the rare Karner blues. This is a farming and low-density residential area covered by pine barrens that is located near the towns of Wilton and Northumberland. The recent donation of a parcel of land by the Town of Wilton represents a positive joint effort between Wilton, Saratoga County, and The Nature Conservancy to protect this threatened Blues habitat.

The North American Butterfly Association is also a very active membership-based not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to saving butterflies in North America. Currently featured on the NABA site is Robert Dirig's fascinating article, Karner Blue, Sing Your Purple Song. Dirig had his first glimpse of a 'Karner' Melissa Blue in 1975 near Karner, NY. Outstanding photographs of exquisite Karner Blues in their natural habitat were taken by Dirig and accompany this outstanding article. His article is a "must read" for all butterfly enthusiasts!

To learn how a U.S. military installation located in the state of Wisconsin became involved in saving the habitat of the rare Karner Blue butterfly, please take the time to read the informative article, Fort McCoy and Karner Blues written by Tim Wilder, Endangered Species Biologist at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. It just so happens that the location of Fort McCoy is also home to the wild lupine {Lupinus perennis} -- the only host plant the Karner blue caterpillar will eat for survival. As Wilder so poignantly states, "Continued monitoring of the butterfly and its habitat will ensure that both soldiers and Karner Blues can coexist on Fort McCoy's landscape far into the future."

As a final note to my two co-featured articles about the beautiful and rare species of butterflies named the Blues, I quote Dr. Kurt Johnson who so eloquently wrote:

Nabokov clearly has had an impact on efforts to preserve the Karner Blue; aside from his own actions popularizing Karner, it helped Karner's chances that it was discovered and named by a legendary writer. Moreover, Nabokov recognized the butterfly's true character as a unique and biogeographically significant entity. Without his efforts, the natural history of the Karner Blue would never have been understood.

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SPECIAL THANKS to Dr. Kurt Johnson for his invaluable input and his endless enthusiasm for the Blues butterfly. Without his help, I could not have brought the serious plight of the Nabokov Blues and the Karner Blues to the attention of my Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardening readers here on Suite 101. We have all gained a wealth of insight from you about Blues butterflies, Dr. Johnson. Thank you!

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