Page 1 of 6 Wisconsin Butterflies butterflies tiger beetles robber flies Search species Northern Blue Lycaeides idas The Northern Blue has been found only in the far northeastern counties in Wisconsin. The Karner Melissa Blue is a very similar species that was not listed in the 1970 book, Butterflies of Wisconsin by Ebner. Several records of the Northern Blue that were referred to in that book were probably of that species. The larvae host plant of the Northern Blue is Dwarf Bilberry (Vaccinium caespitosum), while that of the Karner Blue is Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis). The habitats and general distributions of these plants are very different and it is unlikely that both would be found in the same area. Weekly sightings for Northern Blue Identifying characteristics Above, the male is a light blue with a thin black margin and a light fringe. The female is a black towards the margins with varying amounts of blue on both wings and submarginal orange spots that may even be absent in some individuals. Mo Nielsen in his Michigan Butterflies & Skippers has a photo of a female that has no orange spots above. Underneath the sexes are essentially the same, a light gray background, very prominent black spots, and a row of silvery spots topped by orange and then black crescents. Notice that extremely worn individuals, like the bottom one with no fringe left at all, may have no obvious orange spots below. Similar species In Wisconsin this species could be confused with the Karner Melissa Blue, but the ranges of these species do not overlap and they are not found in the same habitat. The Karner Blue is found close to populations of Lupine, the larval host of the Karner Blue, while the Northern Blue is a butterfly of the far northern counties and whose host plant is Dwarf Bilberry. The main differences between these
Page 2 of 6 species appears to be that the orange crescents on the wings below are smaller and less intense on the Northern Blue, and that the female of the Northern Blue above has much less orange than that of the Karner Blue. Unfortunately, there are many photos that exist online and in books that are simply impossible to identify accurately without knowing where the photos were taken. These two species would cause more identification problems than female Dun Skippers, Northern Broken-Dash, and Little Glassywings if they occurred together. Habitat Open pine forests where its host plant Dwarf Bilberry (Vaccinium caespitosum) occurs. The host plant is also a Wisconsin endangered species. Flight The Northern Blue is single-brooded with individuals flying mainly from late June to the middle of July. Abundance Rare in Wisconsin. This species is listed as endangered by the Wisconsin DNR and as threatened in Michigan where it is found only in upper Michigan and on Isle Royale. In Wisconsin there are only 4-5 known sites where this species currently exists. Early Northern Blue Sightings Date County Reported by Jun 27, 2008 Marinette Ann & Scott Swengel Jun 27, 2008 Oconto Ann & Scott Swengel Jul 1, 2007 Marinette Ann & Scott Swengel Jul 5, 2006 Marinette Mike Reese Jul 16, 2008 Marinette Mike Reese Locations
Page 3 of 6 Gossamer-wing Butterflies Blues NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Same indiviual as above male.
Page 4 of 6 NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Male. NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Female.
Page 5 of 6 NE of Goodman, WI. July 16, 2008. NE of Goodman, WI. July 5, 2006. Male.
Page 6 of 6 NE of Goodman, WI. July 16, 2008. NE of Goodman, WI. July 16, 2008. Show lightbox 2009 wisconsinbutterflies.org contact about