Is the Cassius Blue butterfly endangered?

The cassius blue, ceraunus blue, and nickerbean blue butterflies are listed as Federally Threatened by Similarity of Appearance to the Miami blue butterfly by the Endangered Species Act. These three species are listed as Federally-designated Threatened by Similarity of Appearance in Florida effective September 9, 2012.

Is Plumbago a host plant?

Caterpillar Hosts: Ornamental leadwort (Plumbago capensis), rattlebox (Crotalaria incana), hairy milk pea (Galactia volubilis), and lima bean (Phaseolus limensis). Larva has been reared on the crenulate lead plant, Amorpha crenulata. Adult Food: Nectar from shepherd’s needle, lippia, and many other flowers.

What butterfly has a blue caterpillar?

Most people recognize blue morpho butterflies due to their large size and iridescent blue upper wings.

How big is a Cassius blue?

Adults: The average wing spread is approximately 3/4-15/16 inches (20-33 mm) (Opler and Malikul 1992). The undersides of the wings are striped with two eyespots on the margin of each hind wing.

How many Miami blue butterfly are left?

Once widespread and locally abundant, the Miami blue has been eliminated from much of its former range due to ever-expanding urbanization and the associated loss of coastal habitat. It is now one of Florida’s most endangered insects with a single remaining extant population supporting less than 100 individuals.

Is plumbago invasive in Florida?

Though non-native, this species is considered a Florida-Friendly plant and labeled by the UF/IFAS Assessment as “low invasion risk.” It is sometimes called Cape plumbago, leadwort, or sky flower.

Is Blue plumbago invasive?

It has pretty blue flowers, blooms profusely and is non-invasive.

Does Florida have blue butterflies?

The cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) is a tiny butterfly found most commonly in Central and South Florida, particularly along the coasts. These butterflies are sometimes called tropical striped blue butterflies.

How rare is a blue butterfly?

The Large Blue has always been rare in Britain and became extinct in 1979, but it has been reintroduced from continental Europe as part of a long-term and highly successful conservation project. The Large Blue is declining throughout its world range and is endangered globally.

Why is the Lotis Blue butterfly endangered?

Because of its low numbers and limited distribution, the lotis blue butterfly is extremely vulnerable to further loss of habitat, and a number of potential threats exist, such as logging, peat mining, power line corridor maintenance, herbicide and pesticide application, and alterations of water regimes.

How rare is the Miami blue butterfly?

It is now one of Florida’s most endangered insects with a single remaining extant population supporting less than 100 individuals. Figure 1. Adult Miami blue butterfly, Cyclargus thomasi bethunbakeri (Comstock & Huntington).

How can we save the Miami blue butterfly?

In order to restore populations of this endangered butterfly, researchers are breeding the Miami blue in captivity and releasing butterflies in the wild within its historical range. Florida Museum researchers are studying the ecology of the Miami blue to learn how to effectively re-establish it in the wild.

Does plumbago like sun or shade?

full sun
Because of its pest and disease resistance, how to care for plumbago is pretty basic. It blooms best in full sun but will tolerate some shade if you are willing to sacrifice some of the bloom. As with most plants, it prefers fertile, well-drained soil, but again, it isn’t fussy.

Is plumbago a good hedge?

It easily accepts regular moisture and can become quite large and aggressive. Cape plumbago is most commonly planted as a flowering accent shrub and clipped hedge in residential and commercial landscapes.

How do you care for plumbago in Florida?

Plant plumbago anytime of the year. It generally looks its best when planted in full sun and well-drained soil. Both species require regular watering until established but are moderately drought tolerant afterwards. Plumbago grows quickly but excess growth can be pruned off at any point throughout the year.

What is the rarest butterfly in Florida?

Schaus’ Swallowtail
The devastating impact of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 further reduced population numbers. Today, Schaus’ Swallowtail is restricted to only a few remaining sites in the northern Florida Keys, making it one of the rarest butterflies in the U.S. and our only federally listed swallowtail.

What is the name of the rare blue butterfly?

Palos Verdes Blue butterflies (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis) are among the rarest in the United States. Native only to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California, they were nearly extinct.

What is the rarest butterfly?

The very rarest butterflies
Lotis blue	Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis
Schaus swallowtail	Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus
Lange’s metalmark	Apodemia mormo langei
Palos Verdes blue	Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis

Where do Lotis Blue butterflies live?

The lotis blue butterfly is found in wet meadows or poorly drained sphagnum-willow bogs, where soils are waterlogged and highly acidic. This habitat has a dense undergrowth of shrubs, including California huckleberry, western Labrador tea, salal, wax myrtle, California rose-bay, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce.

Is the Miami blue butterfly extinct?

Owing to the efforts of the North American Butterfly Association, the species was declared endangered in the state of Florida in 2003. And due to a landmark 2011 agreement with the Center to push 757 species toward protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has put the butterfly on the endangered species list.