Karner Blue Butterfly

(Lycaeides melissa samuelis)

My husband and I were at Owen Park when we saw this beauty. This butterfly is 1" big. I noticed a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye. That was the first time we ever saw a karner blue butterfly. It sat on the flower and let me take photos. When taking nature photos, it's important to respect the subject. We didn't talk. This is how I was able to get this photo. How exciting it was! It's always fun to see a butterfly or bird we haven't seen. This one was very special to us.

Karner blue butterflies love lupine. Due to destruction of habitat where wild lupine grows, the karner blue butterfly is endangered. Humans have caused destruction of property for many birds, butterflies and animals. Some people think it's important to build new homes, build apartment buildings, condos, shops and restaurants out in the country where the beauty of the land was heartwarming. Have you noticed how warm it is when you walk on blacktop or cement instead of grass with trees for shade? We have made the karner blue butterfly endangered. Our needs/wants have come ahead of what's good for the planet.

Going outside and enjoying the karner blue butterfly, when you see one, is an amazing thing. Our world is special. It's an unknown.  In order to enjoy the beauty of nature, we need to rethink our wants and needs.

Remember: the karner blue butterfly is 1" big. People have sighted it for over 100 years. It was named after Karner, New York where it was first seen.

The karner blue butterfly is really beautiful. Their lifespan is two weeks.

Keep your eyes open. Maybe you'll see a karner blue butterfly!

The above print is available for purchase.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.


Judy


References:

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/endangeredresources/karner/range.html

https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/kbb/kbb_fact.html

https://www.fws.gov/northeast/factshee.html