Karner+Blue+Butterfly+2010

By: Jake B.

The Karner Blue Butterfly is a small blue butterfly, with blue coloration, and some yellow and black. Its wingspan is about an inch. The male has silvery or dark blue colors, and small black and white outlines. The female is a brownish color, with some blue, black, and orange to it. Their undersides are mainly gray, with some orange and black. The Karner Blue lives throughout the upper parts of the United States, and up into Canada. It also lives in the Northeastern parts of the U.S. The Karner Blue feeds on mainly nectar from native and nonnative flowers. Some blackberries have also been eaten by the butterflies. Other nectar that they eat is also contained by wild lupine, goldenrods, and spotted knapweed. The Karner Blue reproduces two times every year. They lay an estimated 7.7 to 83 eggs on average. Wild Karner Blue eggs may be lost due to predators or being destroyed by careless humans. In the second brood, females tend to lay their eggs on grass and other plants. The average lifespan of an adult Karner Blue comes out to be three to five days. The Karner Blue butterflies are becoming smaller in numbers because of habitat loss. One other source is the chewing of their eggs by some ant species. To help the Karner Blue, we need to be careful around their egg ranges. Carelessness could lead to less eggs being hatched. Also, we could plant wild lupine in certain areas to give the butterflies more places to lay their eggs. We can also protect the nesting areas of the Karner Blue. As you can see, this butterfly is in great need of help. We can all do simple things to save it.