Karner Blue Butterfly

Lycaeides melissa samuelis

The Karner blue was a small butterfly with a wingspread of just 22 to 32 mm. It was most commonly found in oak savanna habitats scattered within the deciduous forest region of southern Ontario, and its historic range may have included Toronto, London, and Sarnia. The wild lupine is the Karner blue larva's only source of food. The distribution and population density of the butterfly appear to have been limited by the extent and health of the wild lupine. A recovery team was established in 1991 with plans to introduce the species in the Metro Toronto Zoo and eventually into the wild.