Conservation of the Northern Blue Butterfly Plebejus (Lycaeides) idas nabokovi in the western Great Lakes region

The northern blue butterfly (Plebejus (Lycaeides) idas nabokovi: Lycaenidae) is part of a complicated Northern Hemisphere taxon that includes several endangered species or subspecies. P. idas nabokovi is distinguished by its specific larval host plant, Vaccinium caespitosum, which itself is locally...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Natural areas journal 2005-01, Vol.25 (1), p.77-85
Main Authors: Wolf, Amy T., Howe, Robert W., Dana, Robert P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological taxonomies
Butterflies
Eggs
Forest conservation
Forest ecology
Habitat conservation
Insect larvae
Lycaeides idas
Lycaenidae
Plants
Plebejus
Vaccinium
Wildlife conservation
Wolves
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The northern blue butterfly (Plebejus (Lycaeides) idas nabokovi: Lycaenidae) is part of a complicated Northern Hemisphere taxon that includes several endangered species or subspecies. P. idas nabokovi is distinguished by its specific larval host plant, Vaccinium caespitosum, which itself is locally rare in the Great Lakes region. Both the butterfly and plant typically occur in clusters of populations within a 2-10 km ² area. Fewer than 30 extant populations or metapopulations of the butterfly are known to occur in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and northeastern Minnesota. Most of these occur in natural or human-created openings on nutrient poor soils, often in topographic depressions or "frost pockets." At least four local P. idas nabokovi populations have disappeared during the past decade, while several others are very small and isolated. Woody plants and invasive forbs threaten to overgrow many existing populations of P. idas nabokovi and V. caespitosum, especially near the southern edge of the butterfly's geographic range. During the past 75 years, conifer planting and fire suppression might have contributed to the loss of V. caespitosum and P. idas nabokovi populations. Controlled burning in rotating units might be appropriate for maintaining areas of V. caespitosum, but risks to butterfly eggs, larvae, and pupae make burning a dangerous option for today's small and patchy P. idas nabokovi populations. At the same time, passive or uninformed protection of forest landscapes in the western Great Lakes region is not likely to be adequate for conservation of P. idas nabokovi, V. caespitosum, and probably other species or subspecies that once inhabited small, natural forest openings.
ISSN:0885-8608
2162-4399