Kendra

= // Karner Blue Butterfly // =

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Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, and New York. They live within the range of the wild lupines. they feed on the nectar of flowering plants. The Karner Blue Butterfly is the size of a nickel. The main preditors of the adult Karner Blue Butterfly are spiders, robber flies, ambush bugs, and dragonflies. of land development, and lack of wildfires, and grazing of large mammals. These help maintain the butterflies habitat because it helps the wild lupine plants growth. in which they are found. There is only one spot that has the largest population of this insect which is the Saratoga County Airport with a about 14,000 butterflies. Conservation Efforts; Plant more flowers to help attract the butterfly, and also creating new habitats for the butterflies to stay and continue to reproduce so they will not become extinct in the future. How will the future ecosystem be affected if the species goes extinct?;** The Karner Blue helps maintain the ecosystems vast diversity of insects. Also by helping to keep the Karner Blue alive it is also protecting imperiled grassland ecosystems, that are home to many other rare insects.
 * Common Name;** Karner Blue Butterfly
 * Scientific Name**; Lycaeides Melissa Samuelis
 * Natural Habitat;** Karner Blue Butterflies are commonly found in Wisconsin, Indiana,
 * Niche;** The caterpillars feed on the leaves of the wild lupine plant. Once a adult butterfly the animal
 * Biotic Factors;** Wild lupine plant
 * Why is the animal endangered/threatened?;** The Karner Blue is endangered due to the loss
 * Current Population Size; There are generally around 1,000 butterflies in each habitat

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