Effects of shade on the oviposition preferences of the endangered Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabakov

Conservation of endangered species depends on the maintenance of critical habitats and minimal viable populations. In eastern New York, the endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) resides in early successional plant communities of the pine barrens ecosystem with Lupinus perennis, the obligate larval host plant. The loss of critical habitat due to landscape fragmentation, succession, and anthropogenic suppression of the natural disturbance regimes is the main factor leading to possible extinction. Species recovery plans need to address specific habitat preferences of L. m. samuelis in relation to the historical structure of the pine barrens ecosystem. In this study, shade level was experimentally manipulated to determine the habitat preferences of ovipositing L. m. samuelis. Females selected L. perennis under 30% and 50% shade more than plants in full sun and used different vegetation for oviposition during the second brood. Larval habitat requirements and L. perennis characteristics are also discussed. These results suggest that heterogeneous habitat structure is important for providing optimal oviposition sites and long-term survival of L. m. samuelis.