Butterflies of Cape Cod Blues Article

Butterflies of Cape Cod

Bringing Back the Blues to Ohio
By Kara Lindelof

    Barely the size of a postage stamp, the Karner Blue butterfly hardly takes up much space at all. Yet, as with so many other species, it has suffered the effects of habitat loss. There is a glimmer of hope- the Karner Blue was the first federally endangered butterfly to have a successful reintroduction to an area formerly in its range. After being extirpated from the area, the Karner Blue was successfully reintroduced to the Oak Openings region in Northwest Ohio. The tiny blue butterfly gets a party in its honor every year, known as “Blue Weekend” at Kitty Todd Preserve.
    According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio, Ohio has six endangered species of butterfly. Three of those use species use the Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis) as larval host plants, and the Karner Blue is one of those three. As natural stands of Blue Lupine are growing scarce, so is the Karner Blue. The largest stands of Blue Lupine are located in the Oak Openings region, just West of Toledo, Ohio. As I learned from one of the guides during Blue Weekend, Blue Lupine needs sandy, acidic soils, which are readily available in the Oak Openings Region. The Blue Lupine, and the butterflies that use it, require open, sunny habitat such as oak savannas, which unfortunately rely on natural fires to maintain them. Fire suppression has been one cause of habitat loss for these species. In preserved areas, like Kitty Todd, prescribed burns are used to bring back the much needed savannas.
    Guides from the Toledo Zoo discussed how the Karner Blue was eliminated from Ohio by 1988 due to habitat loss and fire suppression. But in 1992 a coalition of several organizations such as the Toledo Zoo, the Nature Conservancy, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was formed to introduce to butterfly back into Ohio. In 1998, the first successful reintroduction of a federally endangered butterfly happened. The Toledo Zoo was also responsible for the first successful captive breeding of the Karner Blue.
    While on the walk, I also learned about a particularly fascinating, and surprising, ecological relationship between several species of butterfly- including the Karner Blue- and ants. Caterpillars secrete a sweet liquid, known as “honey dew” that the ants consume. To ensure a constant supply, the ants will actually move the caterpillars into their home and tend to them. The ants protect the caterpillar from parasites and some predators, and increase their chance of survival. Both organisms benefit from this unique relationship.
    Many residents of the Oak Openings Region plant native species in their gardens, including Blue Lupine, to help increase the population of native plants. This benefits all the wildlife in the area, not just the butterflies. As an added bonus, native species are easier to maintain, and cost effective, as they don’t require additional watering or soil amendments.
    The Karner Blue is also the state butterfly of New Hampshire. You can visit the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website for more information. The Karner Blue Butterfly Conservation Easement near the Concord Municpal Airport is open to the public, and a kiosk at the trailhead offers more information on the Karner Blue.

References

Guided Tours at The Nature Conservancy’s Kitty Todd Preserve in celebration of “Blue Weekend”; Oak Openings Region, Ohio.

Parshall, David K, Horace B. Davidson and John T. Watts. Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2005.
Links

The Nature Conservancy: www.nature.org
Ohio Department of Natural Resources: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/
Toledo Zoo: www.toledozoo.org
New Hampshire Fish and Game: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/

Butterflies of Cape Cod - 26 Herring Pond Rd., Bourne, MA 02532