Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan Appendix C.pdf

Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)

September 2003

Department of the Interior U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Great Lakes - Big Rivers Region (Region 3) Fort Snelling, Minnesota ii

KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY RECOVERY TEAM

David Andow, Team Leader Department of Entomology University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota

Miles Benson Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (former Director of Timberlands, Consolidated Papers, Inc.)

Catherine Carnes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Coordinator Ecological Services Field Office (Green Bay) New Franken, Wisconsin

Mark Clough U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Robyn Niver) New York Field Office Cortland, New York

Rex Ennis Huron-Manistee National Forest Cadillac, Michigan

Stephanie Gifford The Nature Conservancy (Neil Gifford) Troy, New York (formerly Bob Zaremba)

Bill Gilbert Plum Creek Timber Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Thomas Givnish Botany Department University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin

Alan Haney College of Natural Resources University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Steve Hatting Huron-Manistee National Forest White Cloud, Michigan

Paul Kooiker Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (formerly Cathy Bleser) Grantsburg, Wisconsin

Cynthia Lane Ecological Strategies, LLC Maiden Rock, Wisconsin iii

Kathy O'Brien New York Department of Environmental Conservation Albany, New York

Pat Lederle Michigan Department of Natural Resources (formerly Mary Rabe) Lansing, Michigan

Dale Schweitzer The Nature Conservancy Port Norris, New Jersey

John Shuey The Nature Conservancy Indianapolis, Indiana

Jennifer Szymanski U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Onalaska, Wisconsin

Larry Wargowsky Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Necedah, Wisconsin iv

This recovery plan has been prepared by the Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Team under the leadership of Dr. David Andow, University of Minnesota-St. Paul. Dr. John Shuey and Dr.

Cynthia Lane assisted with the writing of the document. The purpose of the plan is to delineate reasonable actions needed to restore and protect the endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). Recovery objectives will be attained and funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities.

The plan does not necessarily represent the views or official position of any individuals or agencies involved in plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The plan represents the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only after it has been signed by the Regional Director. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery actions.

LITERATURE CITATION:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Final Recovery Plan for the Karner Blue Butterfly

(Lycaeides melissa samuelis). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

273 pp.

ADDITIONAL COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Field Office 2661 Scott Tower Drive New Franken, Wisconsin 54229 920-866-1717 or

Fish and Wildlife Reference Service 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 301-492-6403 or 1-800-582-3421 Fax: 301-564-4059 Email: fw9_fa_reference_service@fws.gov http://fa.r9.fws.gov/r9fwrs/

Fees for plans obtained from the Fish and Wildlife Reference Service vary depending on the number of pages in the plan. Recovery plans can be downloaded from the FWS website:

http://endangered.fws.gov v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that development of this draft recovery plan would not have been possible without the assistance of the many individuals who attended recovery team meetings, and contributed valuable information to the process. Special thanks goes to Mary Parkin, the Service's Region 5 Recovery Coordinator, who, while not seen but at one meeting, was ever-present as a guide and support in the evolution of this plan.

Acknowledgement goes to Catherine Carnes, the Service’s Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Coordinator who oversaw and coordinated this project.

The Service also wishes to especially acknowledge the following individuals who served as technical consultants to the recovery team for their efforts on behalf of the species:

Mr. Richard King Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin Dr. Judi Maxwell University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin Mr. Robert Welch Waupaca Field Station, Waupaca, Wisconsin

Thanks also to the following individuals who gave of their time and expertise to assist with this plan development:

Michael Amaral Dave Lentz Nancy Braker Kim Mello Hilda Diaz-Soltero Amelia Orton-Palmer Buddy Fazio Noel Pavlovic Anthony Frank Chuck Pils Ralph Grundel Rebecca Power Mark Heil Gregory Smith Bob Hess Janet Smith Ken Hujanen John Staszcuk Craig Johnson Kathy Trudell Randy Jurewicz David VanLuven Chuck Kjos Tim Wilder Randy Knutson Jennifer Windus Paul Kooiker Mike Zeckmeister

Also, special thanks goes to David Kopitzke for the Karner blue butterfly artwork that appears on the cover and within the body of this document.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Karner Blue Butterfly Recovery Plan

Current Species Status: The Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov (Lepidoptera:

Lycaenidae), formerly occurred in a band extending across 12 states from Minnesota to Maine and in the province of Ontario, Canada, and now only occurs in the seven states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, and Ohio. Wisconsin and Michigan support the greatest number of Karner blue butterflies and butterfly sites. The majority of the populations in the remaining states are small and several are at risk of extinction from habitat degradation or loss. Based on the decline of the Karner blue across its historic range, it was listed as endangered in 1992. Since listing, two populations have been extirpated and are being reintroduced to Concord, New Hampshire, and West Gary, Indiana. A third population is being reintroduced to Ohio.

Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: The Karner blue butterfly is dependent on wild lupine, Lupinus perennis L. (Fabaceae), its only known larval food plant, and on nectar plants. These plants historically occurred in savanna and barrens habitats typified by dry sandy soils, and now occur in remnants of these habitats, as well as other locations such as roadsides, military bases, and some forest lands. The primary limiting factors are loss of habitat through development, and canopy closure (succession) without a concomitant restoration of habitat. A shifting geographic mosaic that provides a balance between closed and open-canopy habitats is essential for the maintenance of large viable populations of Karner blue butterflies.

Recovery Objectives: The objective of this recovery plan is to restore viable metapopulations of Karner blues across the species extant range so that it can be reclassified from endangered to threatened. The long-range goal is to remove it from the Federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Recovery Criteria: The reclassification criteria will be met when a minimum of 27 metapopulations [19 viable metapopulations (supporting 3,000 butterflies each), and 8 large viable metapopulations (supporting 6,000 butterflies each)] are established within at least 13 recovery units across the butterfly’s range and are being managed consistent with the recovery objectives outlined in this plan. Delisting will be considered when a minimum of 29 metapopulations (13 viable and 16 large viable metapopulations) have been established within at least 13 recovery units and are being managed consistent with the plan.

Actions Needed:

1. Protect and manage Karner blue and its habitat to perpetuate viable metapopulations.

2. Evaluate and implement translocation where appropriate.

3. Develop rangewide and regional management guidelines.

4. Develop and implement information and education program.

5. Collect important ecological data on Karner blue and associated habitats.

6. Review and track recovery progress (includes re-evaluation of recovery goals for Wisconsin).

Total Estimated Cost of Recovery (in $1,000’s):

Year Need 1 Need 2 Need 3 Need 4 Need 5 Need 6 * Total

2003 872.5 75 7 133 391 7 1,485.5

2004 964.5 55 26 63 423 27 1,558.5

2005 974 100 27 48 400 15 1,564

Total 2811 230 60 244 1,214 49 4,608

* Does not include land acquisition costs.

Date of Recovery: Full recovery of the species is anticipated to require at least 20 years, until about 2023.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. INTRODUCTION

TAXONOMY AND DESCRIPTION

Taxonomy Description Distinguishing Karner blue from similar species

DISTRIBUTION

Range-wide Distribution of Karner Blues State Distribution of Karner Blues New Hampshire New York Michigan Indiana Wisconsin Minnesota

LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY

Karner Blue Butterfly Lupine Food Resource Lupine abundance and Karner blue Lupine quality and the Karner blue Lupine growth, reproduction, dispersal, and propagation Renewal of lupine habitat Other factors affecting lupine Nectar Food Resources Subhabitats Associated Ants Within-Habitat Movement and Between-Site Dispersal Within-habitat movement Between-site dispersal Dispersal barriers Dispersal corridors

HABITAT/ ECOSYSTEM

Structure Remnant native habitats Other contemporary habitats Renewal of Habitat for Karner Blues Remnant native habitats Other contemporary habitats Prescribed fire Removal and suppression of trees and shrubs viii

Associated Species

THREATS TO SURVIVAL

Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or Curtailment of Habitat or Range 38 Loss and alteration of native habitat Loss and alteration of other contemporary habitats Types of incompatible management Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or Educational Purposes ... 41 Disease or Predation Inadequate Regulatory Mechanism Other Natural or Man-made Factors Affecting Its Continued Existence

CONSERVATION MEASURES

Federal Regulatory Protection “Take” Federal permits Section 7 consultation Memorandum of Understanding State Protection Other Related Recovery Plans Midwest Oak Ecosystem Recovery Plan Ontario, Canada Recovery Plan and Recovery Efforts Reintroduction/ Translocation Captive rearing Role of Federal Lands and Programs in Recovery Efforts Private Land Initiatives Education and Outreach Activities

RECOVERY STRATEGY

PART II. RECOVERY

RECOVERY OBJECTIVE

Reclassification Criteria ……………………………………………………………... 55

Delisting Criteria ………………………………………………………………….…. 57

RATIONALE

Management of a Viable Metapopulation Purpose Specificity Management risks Management strategy Monitoring of a Viable Metapopulation Purpose Specificity ix

Use of information Monitoring strategy Buffering Capacity Specificity Identification of adverse disturbances and threats to survival Need to mitigate adverse disturbances and threats Population Structure Components of metapopulation structure Redundancy Necessary metapopulation structure Specificity Occupancy of sites

STEPDOWN RECOVERY OUTLINE

RECOVERY TASKS

LITERATURE CITED

PART III. IMPLEMENTATION

KEY TO IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... A-1

APPENDIX A. Glossary.................................................................................................... A-1

APPENDIX B. Recovery Units, Potential Recovery Units, and Historic Sites ................ B-7

APPENDIX C. Plants Used for Nectar by Adults ............................................................. C-37

APPENDIX D. Associated Federal and State Imperiled Species...................................... D-43

APPENDIX E. Spatial Structure of a Minimum Viable Metapopulation ......................... E-53

APPENDIX F. Large Viable Metapopulations .................................................................F-67

APPENDIX G. Management Guidelines...........................................................................G-71

APPENDIX H. Monitoring Requirements and Guidelines ............................................. H-105

APPENDIX I. Translocation Guidelines for the Karner Blue Butterfly........................... I-119

APPENDIX J. Educational and Outreach Activities........................................................ J-127

APPENDIX K. Public Comments on the Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan .......... K-131 x

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Life Stages of the Karner blue butterfly

Figure 2. Phenology of the Karner blue butterfly and lupine

Figure 3. Illustration of life history stages of the Karner blue

Figure B1. Map showing range-wide recovery units for the Karner blue butterfly ............. B-10

Figure B2. Karner blue butterfly recovery units in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York .......................................................................................................... B-11

Figure B3. Karner blue butterfly recovery units in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio................. B-12

Figure B4. Karner blue butterfly recovery units in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin....... B-13

Figure E1. True metapopulation structure ............................................................................ E-53

Figure E2. Core-satellite structure ........................................................................................ E-54

Figure E3. Patchy metapopulation structure......................................................................... E-54

Figure E4. Dependence of population structure on local extirpation rate and between site dispersal rate................................................................................................. E-55

Figure E5. Schematic of a functioning Karner blue metapopulation in a working landscape............................................................................................................. E-58

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Nectar plant species used commonly by first and second brood Karner blue butterflies

Table 2. Ant species tending Karner blue larvae

Table 3. Number of designated state endangered, threatened, or special concern species potentially associated with Karner blue habitats

Table 4. Metapopulation goals by recovery unit for the Karner blue butterfly

Table 5. Research that is not a priority for recovery

Table 6. Implementation table for the Karner blue butterfly recovery plan xi

Table B1. Potential locations of metapopulations by recovery unit .................................... B-15

Table C1. Nectar plant species reported to be used by the Karner blue butterfly ............... C-37

Table D1. New Hampshire imperiled species associated with Karner blue habitats........... D-43

Table D2. New York imperiled species associated with Karner blue habitats.................... D-44

Table D3. Michigan imperiled species associated with Karner blue habitats ..................... D-45

Table D4. Indiana imperiled species associated with Karner blue habitats......................... D-47

Table D5. Wisconsin imperiled species associated with Karner blue habitats.................... D-49

Table D6. Minnesota imperiled species associated with Karner blue habitats.................... D-52

Table G1. Summary of Karner blue butterfly between-site dispersal and within-habitat movement studies ......................................................................... G-75

Table H1. Examples of four-year running averages ........................................................... H-109

PART I. INTRODUCTION

The Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) was proposed for Federal listing on January 21, 1992 [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 1992a], and on December 14, 1992 it was listed as federally endangered rangewide (USFWS 1992b). Historically, the Karner blue butterfly occurred in 12 states and at several sites in the province of Ontario. It is currently extant in seven states (New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota) with the greatest number of occurrences in the western part of its range (Michigan and Wisconsin). The Karner blue is considered extirpated from five states and the Canadian province of Ontario. Reintroductions are underway at three sites, Concord, New Hampshire, West Gary, Indiana, and in Ohio. The historic habitat of the butterfly was the savanna/barrens ecosystems. Much of these ecosystems has been destroyed by development, fragmented, or degraded by succession, and has not been replaced by other suitable habitat, especially in the eastern part, and along the margins of the butterfly's range. The loss of suitable habitat resulted in a decline in Karner blue locations and numbers, with some large populations lost, especially in the eastern and central portions of its range. Presently, the Karner blue butterfly occupies remnant savanna/barrens habitat and other sites that have historically supported these habitats, such as silvicultural tracts (e.g. young pine stands), rights-of-ways, airports, military bases, and utility corridors.

The ecology of the Karner blue butterfly is closely tied to its habitat which provides food resources and key subhabitats for the butterfly. The larvae feed only on one plant, wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). Adults require nectar sources to survive and lay sufficient eggs. Because these habitat components can be lost to succession, Karner blue butterfly persistence is dependent on disturbance and/or management to renew existing habitat or to create new habitats.

The distribution and dynamics of these habitats in the establishment of viable metapopulation of this species forms the ecological basis for recovery planning.

TAXONOMY AND DESCRIPTION

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the Karner blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) follows Lane and Weller (1994) who have conducted the most recent review of its taxonomy. The Karner blue is a member of the genus Lycaeides (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) (Elliot 1973, Nabokov 1943, 1949). In North America there are two species of Lycaeides, L. idas (formerly L.

argyrognomon) and L. melissa (Higgins 1985, Lane and Weller 1994). Lycaeides melissa is comprised of six subspecies, L. m. melissa, L. m. annetta, L. m. inyoensis, L. m. mexicana, L. m.

pseudosamuelis, and L. m. samuelis (Lane and Weller 1994). Vladimir Nabokov conducted the taxonomy for this group in the 1940s. Sometime after this work was published, Nabokov commented in private letters that the Karner blue should be classified as a distinct species (Nabokov 1952, 1975, 1989). Nabokov noted that the male genitalia of L. m. melissa were very variable geographically, but the male genitalia of L. m. samuelis were remarkably constant over the entire range of the subspecies. The wing shape of L. m. samuelis is rounder and less pointed than that of L. m. melissa, especially the female hingwing. Moreover, L. m. samuelis uses only one host plant throughout its geographic range, while L. m. melissa uses many species of host plant. The taxonomic work to elevate L. m. samuelis to the species level was never completed, and the currently accepted status of the Karner blue butterfly is subspecific (Miller and Brown 1983, Nabokov 1943, 1949, Opler 1992, Opler and Krizek 1984, Lane and Weller 1994). While other work has been done on the taxonomy of the Karner blue, the data thus far does not support a change in the classification of the butterfly.

Packer et al. (1998) described protein variation detected by starch gel electrophoresis in a study of 34 loci in two samples of the Karner blue (Wisconsin and New York) and one sample of the Melissa blue (Minnesota). Based on their application of a phylogenetic species concept criterion for species-level distinctness requiring fixed allele differences between the two supposed species, they concluded that the Karner blue and the Melissa blue are not distinct enough to be considered different species. They also reported that the genetic identity values between samples from the different subspecies (0.967 and 0.976) were less than between the two samples of Karner blue (0.989). They observed that these identity values were within the ranges of values reported for subspecies and intraspecific populations of other insects. Genetic data alone, according to their interpretation, is consistent with both population-level and subspecies-level divergence. The utility of these data for making inferences about taxonomy and population structure is limited by the small number of populations sampled and the small number of individuals (ranging from 3 to 17 individuals, depending on the population and locus) sampled.

In addition, genetics data alone should not be used in making taxonomic decisions; it must be considered together with morphological, life history, and ecological data.

Nice et al. (2000) investigated the taxonomy of the genus using male genital morphology and variation in nuclear (microsatellite) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA, sampled from over 60 Lycaeides populations. The microsatellite DNA data support the treatment of the Karner blue as a distinct evolutionary unit (coherent taxon). Genetic distances based on DNA among taxa in this genus were small relative to the differentiation in morphological and ecological traits.

Microsatellite allele frequency data indicate that the Karner blue population is a well defined, closely related group, distinct from other Lycaeides taxa. Indeed, microsatellite data indicate that the Karner blue is the most clearly defined of the North American Lycaeides taxa.

The morphology of Lycaeides male genitalia indicated that while other forms of L.

melissa are more variable (as Nabokov noted), there was no diagnostic distinction between them and the Karner blue. These data support the treatment of L. melissa as a distinct taxonomic unit.

They do not refute the indications of the microsatellite data that Karner blue is a clearly defined taxon, but they cannot be used to support the concept either.

In contrast, mtDNA variation found by Nice et al. (2000) was inconclusive. These data did not support the concept of L. melissa or the Karner blue as a coherent taxonomic unit, and cannot be used for inferences about the genetic distinctions among populations of the Karner blue butterfly. The Wisconsin and Minnesota Karner blue populations share mtDNA haplotypes with populations of L. melissa and L. idas in the western U.S. Two unique haplotypes were found in Karner blue populations east of Lake Michigan (i.e., Indiana, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire), but haplotypes associated with European species were also related to these eastern populations. The mtDNA haplotype data suggest that there may have been movement of haplotypes among Lycaeides species and among L. melissa subspecies (Nice et al. 2000).

[However, use of these mtDNA data for making any taxonomic inferences, including inferences about gene movement is limited by the small sample size from some of the sites (one sample each from Minnesota and Michigan) and limited number of base pairs analyzed (Robert Zink, University of MN, pers.comm. 2002).]

Taken as a whole, the genetic, morphological, ecological, and life history data support treating the Karner blue as a coherent taxon, with taxonomic affinities to both the L. melissa and L. idas groups. Karner blue butterfly populations are distinct from other nearby Lycaeides. They are bivoltine, dependent on Lupinus perennis (wild lupine), and possess distinct wing pattern elements. In addition, there is no evidence of morphological intermediacy in the Karner blue populations sampled (Chris Nice, pers. comm. 2002).

While additional genetics work, done with larger sample sizes, additional sample sites, and more analyses of nuclear and mtDNA may be helpful to further determine if Lycaeides melissa samuelis should be divided into two or more subspecies, such work is considered a low recovery priority for the reasons noted above.

Description

Figure 1 depicts the various life stages of the Karner blue. Karner blue butterflies are small with a wingspan of about 2.5 cm. (one inch). The forewing length of adult Karner blues is

1.2 to 1.4 cm for males and 1.4 to 1.6 cm for females (Opler and Krizek 1984). The wing shape is rounded and less pointed than L. m. melissa, especially in the female hind wing (Nabokov 1949). The upper (dorsal) side of the male wing is a violet blue with a black margin and white-fringed edge. The female upper side ranges from dull violet to bright purplish blue near the body and central portions of the wings, and the remainder of the wing is a light or dark gray-brown, with marginal orange crescents typically restricted to the hind wing. Both sexes are a grayish fawn color on the ventral side. Near the margins of the underside of both wings are orange crescents and metallic spots. The black terminal line along the margin of the hind wing is usually continuous (Klots 1979, Nabokov 1944). Nobokov (1944, 1949) believed that male genitalia were the most reliable character for distinguishing adult L. m. samuelis from other subspecies (and species). The work of Nice et al. (2000) however, did not find the morphology of the male genitalia to be a good diagnostic characteristic.

The eggs of Karner blue are tiny and radially symmetric, about 0.7 mm in diameter, somewhat flattened, and pale greenish-white in color (Dirig 1994). The surface is deeply reticulated with a fine geometric pattern (Scudder 1889). Larvae are a pea-green color, pubescent and dorsally flattened, with a brown-black to black head capsule. The head is often not visible as it is tucked under the body. Older larvae have pale green (to white) lateral stripes, and a dark-green longitudinal stripe dorsally. In pre-pupal larvae, the lateral stripes become less distinct and the color becomes a duller green. Larvae have four instars (larval development stages) (Savignano 1990), and three glandular structures that are known to mediate interactions with ants in other species of Lycaenidae (Refer to PART I, LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY, Associated Ants, and Savignano 1994a and references therein). Some of these glandular structures mediate interactions with ants in Karner blue, but it is not known what is secreted by any of the structures and if any of the structures are active throughout larval life.

Figure 1. Life stages of the Karner blue butterfly

Egg, top view Egg, side view Egg on lupine 0.7mm

Larva on lupine Larva tended by ant Pupae on lupine Larval feeding damage on lupine

Adult Female Adult Male

Photo credits. Drawings of eggs from Scudder (1889); Karner blue larvae tended by ant courtesy of the Wisconsin DNR, all other photos courtesy of Paul Labus, The Nature Conservancy, Whiting, Indiana (refer also to:

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/indiana/preserves/art9126.html for additional images).

Ants are known to tend larvae during their larval stage (Figure 1). Pupae are bright green and smooth, changing to a light tan with hints of purple shortly before emergence when the adult cuticle separates from the cuticle of the pupal case.

Distinguishing Karner blue from similar species

In the eastern United States, the Karner blue butterfly can be confused readily with the eastern-tailed blue (Everes comyntas) and less readily with the spring azure (Celastrina argiolus) complex (Opler 1992, Scott 1986). Eastern-tailed blues are on average smaller than Karner blue and they have black projections or "tails" on the outer angle of the hind wings (Opler 1992, Scott 1986). These tails may be broken off but usually leave some remnant indicating their former presence. On the underside of the wings, eastern-tailed blues lack orange crescents on the forewing, and four spots, two large and two small, are present on the hind wing (Opler 1992, Scott 1986). It may be difficult to distinguish a large male eastern-tailed blue from a small male Karner blue when they are in flight. Spring azures lack the orange crescents on the undersides of their wings (Opler 1992).

In the Midwest, Karner blue butterflies can be confused with Nabokov's blue (L. idas nabokovi), Melissa blue (L. melissa melissa), eastern- and western-tailed blues (Everes comyntas and E. amyntula), Reakirt's blue (Hemiargus isola), greenish blue (Plebius saepiolus), marine blue (Leptotes marina), acmon blue (Icaricia acmon), spring azure (Celastrina argiolus) complex, and silvery blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) (Opler 1992, Scott 1986). Species occurrence varies throughout the Midwest and to determine the species present locally, it is best to consult local guides and checklists. Eastern-tailed blue is the only species that is confused readily with Karner blue. Spring azure, silvery blue, Reakirt's blue, and marine blue lack the orange crescents on the under sides of their wings (Opler 1992, Opler and Krizek 1984, Scott 1986). Eastern- and western-tailed blues have tails (as described above), orange crescents are absent on the underside of the forewing, and there are, respectively, four or one orange spot(s) on the hind wing (fewer than Karner blue). The greenish blue has one or more orange marginal crescents, which are, however, much smaller in size than the spots on Karner blue. The marginal crescents on the dorsal side of the male acmon blue hind wing, tend to be more pink than orange (Opler 1992). Melissa blue can be distinguished from Karner blue by the orange banding on the upper (dorsal) side of the forewing (females only), genitalia differences and differential habitat use (Nabokov 1943, 1949, Scott 1986). Melissa blue larvae can feed on Astragalus sp., Glycyrriza lepidota, Lupinus sp., and several other species (Scott 1986). The occurrence of Melissa blue comes closest (30 miles) to Karner blue sites in southeastern Minnesota. The range of Nabokov's blue, L. idas nabokovi, overlaps with Karner blue in certain areas, but the Karner blue is typically found in oak and pine savanna/barrens, whereas Nabokov's blue is found primarily in forest clearings (Masters 1972). Also, the two species have different host plants.

The Karner blue feeds exclusively on wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), and Nabokov's blue feeds on dwarf bilberry (Vaccinium cespitosum) (Nielsen and Ferge 1982). Although there are superficial differences in coloration between these two subspecies (Masters 1972), unequivocal identification would require dissection and examination of the male genitalia (Nabokov 1944).

Interested readers should consult the cited references for more details.

DISTRIBUTION

Rangewide Distribution of Karner Blues

Historically, the Karner blue butterfly occurred in a geographic band between 41o and 46o North latitude extending from Minnesota to Maine (Dirig 1994) (refer to Figure B-1, APPENDIX B). The butterfly is commonly found on sandy soil types that have populations of Lupinus perennis (the only known larval food source), and often inhabits communities similar to oak and pine savanna/barrens communities. In this recovery plan, the term "lupine" will refer to L. perennis to the exclusion of all other species of Lupinus.

Dirig (1994) reviewed all of the locality records of the Karner blue he could find, whether or not they were confirmed with vouched specimens. His work is an exhaustive summary of the reports of Karner blue occurrence. To establish a definitive historic geographic range, this recovery plan only includes locality records with confirmed specimens. Additional information from Dr. Robert Dirig, requested by the Recovery Team, was especially critical for evaluating records from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, and Wisconsin. These findings are summarized here and presented in greater detail in APPENDIX B.

The historic northern, eastern, and western limits of the butterfly correspond roughly with the distributional limits of lupine. In all three regions, the present distribution of the butterfly has contracted away from these limits, with extirpations of populations occurring in all three geographic directions. The northernmost population of the Karner blue occurs in the Superior Outwash Recovery Unit (RU) in Wisconsin, the westernmost population in the Paleozoic Plateau RU in Minnesota, and the easternmost population in the Merrimac/Nashua River System RU in New Hampshire (refer to APPENDIX B, Figures B2 and B4).

The historic southern limit of the butterfly did not correspond to the distribution of lupine, which occurred historically much further south than the butterfly. But even here the distribution of Karner blue has contracted away from the historic distribution. The southernmost population of Karner blue is now in the Indiana Dunes RU (refer to APPENDIX B, Figure B3).

As of Fall 2002, extant populations of the Karner blue occur in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Reintroductions are currently ongoing in Ohio, at Concord, New Hampshire, and in West Gary, Indiana. Almost all known extant populations occur on sandy soils associated with glacial outwash plains and terraces, glacial moraines, the shores and bottoms of glacial lakes, the glacial shores of existing lakes, and dissected sandstone outwashes (Andow et al. 1994 and references therein, APPENDIX B).

Wisconsin and Michigan have the largest number of local populations with the greatest numbers of individuals; New York has one large population (Baker 1994). Many local populations of the butterfly appear extirpated, and the States of Iowa, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, and the Canadian province of Ontario no longer support populations of the butterfly (Baker 1994).

State Distribution of Karner Blues

This section briefly reviews survey efforts and the distribution of the Karner blue in each state where recovery units (RUs) have been established via this recovery planning process.

Survey efforts to identify additional Karner blue sites are continuing in Wisconsin, Michigan and New York, with additional Karner blue butterfly localities identified in all three states since Federal listing of the species. Several of the survey efforts are a result of formal section 7 consultations with Federal agencies including the Department of Defense (Fort McCoy) in Wisconsin and the U.S. Forest Service in Michigan (for forest management activities on the Huron-Manistee National Forest [NF] and for gypsy moth control). For a glossary of terms used in this recovery plan (Plan) refer to APPENDIX A. For information and locations on the 13 RUs and six potential RUs established by this Plan refer to APPENDIX B.

New Hampshire (Merrimack/Nashua River System RU)

No native Karner blue populations remain in New England. The last native population occurred in the Concord Pine Barrens in Concord, New Hampshire, and was extirpated in 2000.

That last population, which existed in a powerline right-of-way and the grassy safeways of the Concord Airport had declined from 3,700 estimated butterflies in 1983 (Schweitzer 1983, 1994), to 219 butterflies in 1991, and to less than 50 in 1994, making this site at extreme risk for extinction (Peteroy 1998). A reintroduction program was started in 2001 at Concord, with the donor population coming from the Saratoga Airport in New York (refer to PART I, Translocation/Reintroduction, Captive rearing).

New York (Glacial Lake Albany RU)

The Karner blue butterfly was once common in New York (Cryan and Dirig 1978, Dirig

1994). In the Albany area alone, the Karner blue probably inhabited most of the 25,000 acres of the original Albany Pine Bush, the area from which Karner blues were first described. The Albany Pine Bush area once supported an estimated 17,500 butterflies in one 300 acre site during 1978 (Sommers and Nye 1994). By the mid-1980's, however, much of the Albany Pine Bush had been destroyed by development and degraded by introduction of non-Pine Bush species and natural succession. By 1988, only 2,500 acres of the original 25,000 acres remained (Givnish et

al. 1988), and loss of habitat has continued. Current populations number only in the several hundreds (Schweitzer 1994a), and existing habitat continues to undergo succession and degradation.

Additional Karner blue butterfly sites occur in the Saratoga Sandplains and Saratoga

West areas north of Albany. The majority of the sites in these areas support less than 100 butterflies. The largest population of the butterfly is at the Saratoga Airport, and is estimated to support 10,000 Karner blue butterflies.

Currently the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NY DEC) has identified 70 Karner blue localities and 56 subpopulations (using the 200 meter separation criteria for subpopulations, refer to APPENDIX A) in the Glacial Lake Albany RU. Of those, 43 subpopulations are within the three recovery areas: 7 in the Albany Pine Bush, 27 in Saratoga Sandplains, and 9 in Saratoga West. Of these 43 subpopulations, only 15 are anticipated to have more than 10 butterflies in the annual index counts. Eight subpopulations are within the Queensbury Sandplains in Warren County, which is considered a location for recovery under the state’s draft recovery plan. Five subpopulations are within Glacial Lake Albany RU, but are isolated from any expected interaction with the sites in the recovery areas. The NY DEC considers a site occupied until at least five years of adequate survey has failed to find the species.

Some of the New York subpopulations are extremely small and vulnerable and will be considered extirpated if Karner blues are not found in the next year or two (Gerald Barnhart, NY DEC, in litt. 2002).

Michigan (Ionia, Allegan, Newago and Muskegon RUs)

The Karner blue butterfly is currently found in 10 of the 11 Michigan counties in which it historically occurred. Early surveys by Wilsmann (1994) noted that the Karner blue populations were reduced and highly fragmented. The majority of the Karner blue sites occur on state land (Flat River and Allegan State Game Areas [SGAs]) in the Ionia and Allegan RUs, and on Federal lands (Huron-Manistee National Forest) in the Newaygo and Muskegon RUs.

Survey efforts during 1994-1996 by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (NFI) of 65 areas within the Ionia RU on public and private lands revealed nine extant Karner blue sites, eight within the Flat River SGA; with the exception of one site, all supported low numbers of butterflies (Cuthrell and Rabe 1996). Based on data through 1998, eight subpopulations (defined as separated by 200 meters of unsuitable habitat) have been identified at the Flat River SGA and 23 at the Allegan SGA. In addition, two other subpopulations occur on private property; one near each of these state properties (Daria Hyde, Michigan NFI, pers. comm. 1998). The Ionia RU is the least well surveyed of all the Michigan RUs with much of the area outside of the Flat River SGA developed for agriculture and other uses (Baker 1994, Wilsmann 1994). The most sizable populations in the state occur at Allegan and Flat River SGAs and most likely on the Huron-Manistee NF (Jennifer Fettinger, pers. comm. 2002).

Many locations in the Newaygo and Muskegon RUs that supported Karner blue butterfly populations 35-40 years ago have been lost to succession, agricultural conversion, forestry, and residential and commercial developments (Wilsmann 1994). The majority of Karner blue sites in these two RUs occur on the Huron-Manistee NF. As of the fall of 2002, a total of 13,792 acres of the Huron-Manistee NF were surveyed for the Karner blue, with butterflies found on 2,026 acres in 267 locations. As of 2002, 78 subpopulations (using the 200 meter criteria) were reported on the Huron-Manistee NF; these includes seven along powerline ROWs (Jennifer Fettinger, MI NFI, pers. comm. 2002). In 2002, the Michigan NFI surveyed 58 sites on the Huron-Manistee NF and found the Karner blue at 40 of these sites. Surveys on private lands within the Manistee National Forest boundary have documented an additional 56 localities on about 440 acres (Joe Kelly, pers. comm. 1998, Jennifer Fettinger, pers.comm. 2002). Some utility companies (e.g., Consumers Energy and Wolverine Power Company) in Michigan are surveying their transmission line corridors for Karner blues.

As of the fall of 2002, Michigan, excluding the Allegan SGA, supported 158 subpopulations of Karner blues (based on a 200 meter separation criteria) (Jennifer Fettinger, Michigan NFI, pers. comm. 2002). As noted above, in 1998, Allegan SGA supported 23 subpopulations of Karner blues; this number is currently under revision to reflect 2002 numbers.

Indiana (Indiana Dunes RU)

Historically, the Karner blue was reported from eight counties in Indiana. In 1990, Karner blue butterflies were identified at 10 sites out of 35 potential sites surveyed (Martin 1994). Two population clusters were identified within two counties (Lake and Porter), the majority of which was associated with medium to high quality Karner blue habitat (Martin 1994). The early surveys in Porter County (which includes the National Park Service's Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore [IDNL]) identified between 1,000 and 10,000 second brood Karner blue adults (Baker 1994). In Lake County, at the IDNL, several thousand second brood adults were estimated (Schweitzer 1992), and in other Lake County sites, the subpopulations likely number between 100-500 (John Shuey, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), pers. comm. 1998).

Currently it is estimated that 17 subpopulations of Karner blues (using the 200 meter separation criteria) occur at IDNL (Ralph Grundel and Noel Pavlovic, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), pers. comm. 1998). In West Gary, about 21 tracts clustered into 11 individual preserves and management areas have been identified as potentially able to at least periodically support the Karner blue (Shuey, undated); these sites are associated with a remnant dune and swale complex.

In 1998, four of these tracts supported Karner blues (John Shuey, pers. comm. 1998); however, by 2000, Karners were gone from all four sites. In 2001, a reintroduction project was started to restore Karner blues to West Gary (refer to PART I, Reintroduction/Translocation, Captive rearing)

Wisconsin (Morainal Sands, Glacial Lake Wisconsin, West Central Driftless, Wisconsin Escarpment and Sandstone Plateau and Superior Outwash RUs)

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) began systematic statewide surveys for the Karner blue in 1990 including surveys of 33 of the 36 known historic butterfly sites. Initial surveys by Bleser (1993) reported that only 11 of the 33 historical sites supported Karner blues, and also identified 23 previously unknown sites. Additional survey efforts were subsequently conducted by the Wisconsin DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) [Trick 1993, Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)], Fort McCoy (Leach 1993), and other biologists (Swengel 1994, Bidwell 1996). By 1993, an estimated 150 to 170 discrete Karner blue sites were documented in Wisconsin (Baker 1994). In recent years, additional surveying has been done by partners to the Wisconsin Statewide Habitat Conservation Plan for the Karner Blue Butterfly (HCP) including eight county forest departments, several private forest and utility companies, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Partners to the HCP routinely survey for the butterfly prior to conducting management activities in an effort to avoid adverse impacts to the Karner blue. In addition, partners monitor for Karner blues annually as part of the HCP effectiveness monitoring program coordinated by the Wisconsin

DNR.

Two separate but related sources of data on the Karner blue and its habitat in Wisconsin currently demonstrate that Karner blue butterfly populations in Wisconsin are numerous and widely distributed across the state. As of April 2002, Wisconsin DNR's Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) database noted 311 Karner blue butterfly occurrences (using a one-half mile separation criteria) across 20 counties in Wisconsin. This reflects an 815 percent increase in recorded NHI Karner blue occurrences since listing. Similarly, the HCP annual monitoring program has documented 256 Karner blue occupied sites as of December 2002 on HCP partner lands, reflecting a 241 percent increase in Karner blue occupied sites on partner lands between 1998 and 2002 (Darrell Bazzell, WDNR, in litt. 2002). Most of the 256 Karner blue occurrences on partner lands are a subset of the NHI data (i.e. included in the 311 NHI occurrences), although further analyses is necessary to determine if some of these sites are new NHI occurrences (greater than 1/2 mile from an existing occurrence).

The number of known lupine sites on HCP partner lands in Wisconsin has also increased.

About 252,299 acres of land (WDNR 2002a) are covered by the HCP, and partners implement measures that contribute to the conservation, and in some cases, recovery of the butterfly on these lands (WDNR 2000) (not all this acerage supports Karner blues). In 1998, there were 90 identified lupine sites on shifting mosaic (i.e. forestry) habitat that contained at least 25 plants or clumps of lupine at a density of 50 lupine plants/acre, or 25 lupine plants/200 meters for linear sites (e.g., rights-of-way). Annual HCP monitoring since 1998 has identified an additional 220 sites containing lupine, bringing the total to 310, an increase of 244 percent from 1998 to 2002.

In addition, approximately 1,600 identified long-term habitat (e.g. barrens, rights-of-ways) sites in Wisconsin contain lupine.

Taken as a whole, the data demonstrate that of all the states, Wisconsin has the most numerous and widespread Karner blue occurrences, and that the butterfly is likely to be more stable in Wisconsin than previously believed (additional detailed review of HCP monitoring data is needed to further assess this possibility). In addition, there are many thousands of acres of suitable or potentially suitable habitat for the Karner blue in Wisconsin especially on HCP partner lands. The data strongly suggests that future monitoring will continue to identify new occupied Karner blue occurrences as well as additional suitable habitat in Wisconsin. For these reasons it appears appropriate for the Recovery Team to thoroughly review the data on the distribution, status, and threats to the butterfly in Wisconsin and to re-evaluate the recovery goals and criteria for the state, and if appropriate, to revise the goals as warranted. A recovery task has been added to this plan to that effect (refer to PART II, RECOVERY TASKS, Task 6.3).

Most of the Wisconsin subpopulations can be lumped into about 15 large population areas, many of which are found on sizable contiguous acreages in central and northwest Wisconsin (WDNR 2000). At least one sizable population occurs in each of the five Wisconsin recovery units (refer to APPENDIX B). Some of the largest Karner blue populations are found at Necedah NWR, Fort McCoy, Glacial Lake Grantsburg Work Unit [which includes Fish Lake and Crex Meadows State WAs], Eau Claire County Forest, Jackson County Forest, and Black River State Forest. Some larger populations occur on HCP partner lands.

Minnesota (Paleozoic Plateau RU)

Karner blue butterflies currently only occur at the Whitewater Wildlife Management

Area (WMA) in southeastern Minnesota. Two to possibly five small local populations are located in a 1770-acre expanse of poor to high quality oak savanna at the WMA. Translocation of butterflies into an unoccupied site was initiated in 1999 and was repeated in 2000 and 2002.

Some success of this effort was evidenced by the discovery of butterflies during the first flight in 2001, thus indicating over-wintering survival (refer to PART I, CONSERVATION MEASURES, Reintroduction/Translocation).

Permanent transect counts conducted at two sites since 1992 (Cuthrell and Historic Sites) recorded peak second flight counts ranging from 0.63 to 4.00 butterflies per 1,000 square meters of transect (mean = 1.40) at the Cuthrell Site, and from 0 to 1.33 butterflies per 1,000 square meters of transect (mean = 0.60) at the Historic Site. These numbers represent relative abundance, and the relationship between numbers counted and total population size is unknown but is probably linear (Lane 1999a, Edwards 2002). Because other butterfly monitoring research has shown that only a portion of the butterflies in a sample area are counted and that in this case only a fraction of each site is surveyed, population numbers are considerably greater than the observed transect count numbers.

There are other locations in the southeastern and east-central part of the state that formerly supported lupine. The only other known location to have supported the Karner blue butterfly in Minnesota is the Cedar Creek Natural History Area (CCNHA). Surveys of 50 potentially suitable sites in Minnesota (oak savanna with sandy soil and lupine) revealed that many lupine sites were no longer present and that Karner blues had been extirpated from the CCNHA site (Lane and Dana 1994).

LIFE HISTORY AND ECOLOGY

Karner Blue Butterfly

The life history of the Karner blue butterfly has been studied by Scudder (1889), Dirig

(1976, 1994), Cryan and Dirig (1978), Savignano (1990), Swengel (1995), Swengel and Swengel (1996, 1999, 2000), and Lane (1999b). The Karner blue butterfly is bivoltine, which means that it completes two generations per year (Figures 2 and 3). In typical years, first brood larvae (caterpillars) hatch from overwintered eggs in mid- to late April and begin feeding on wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), the only known larval food source (Figure 2). Larvae pass through four instars (developmental stages), between which the relatively soft larval exoskeleton is shed.

Feeding by first and second instar larvae results in tiny circular holes in the lupine leaves while older larvae eat all but the upper or lower epidermis, creating a characteristic window-pane (Figure 1) appearance (e.g., Swengel 1995). Larvae feed for about three to four weeks and pupate (transform from larvae to adult) in late May to early June.