Rare butterflies

Who are Michigan's rare butterflies?

Michigan is home to three rare and endangered butterfly species: the Karner blue, Mitchell’s satyr, and Poweshiek skipperling. These tiny butterflies are listed as endangered at both federal and state levels. Each species relies on very specific plants and habitats to survive and reproduce. Unfortunately, human development, invasive species, and climate change have drastically altered these environments, causing steep declines in their populations.  

So, how can we help these delicate butterflies make a comeback? For a deeper dive into these rare butterflies and the conservation efforts supporting them, take our Pollinators Champions course, which now includes a module dedicated to butterflies. 

 

Karner Blue (Plebejus samuelis)

The Karner blue is a small butterfly that lives in primarily oak savannahs and pine barren ecosystems. The larvae depend on wild blue lupine as their sole food source.  

Karner blue species description - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Karner blue butterfly overview - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Identification tips and habitat - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Recovering the Karner blue butterfly - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

More about wild lupine - U.S. Forest Service

 

Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)

The Poweshiek skipperling lives in native prairies and fens. It can be an erratic flyer, giving them a “skipping” quality to their flight. 

Poweshiek skipperling species description - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

More about the Poweshiek skipperling - Wisconsin Butterflies

Rare species guide, Poweshiek skipperling - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Learn more about prairie fens - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

 

Mitchell's satyr (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii)

Similar to the skipperling, Mitchell’s satyr relies on fen habitats. Fens are considered globally rare and suffer from climate change and urbanization, adding to the rarity of this butterfly.  

Mitchell's satyr brochure - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Protecting habitat for the rare Mitchell's satyr butterfly - The Nature Conservancy

Mitchell's satyr butterfly - Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Learn more about fens - Anna Gibbs, Science News

 

Conservation efforts for these rare butterflies

There are many organizations across the state of Michigan supporting the conservation of butterfly species.  

• MSU’s Michigan Natural Features Inventory, which helps guide conservation efforts with scientific findings and expertise 
• John Ball Zoo’s Great Lakes Conservation program, which includes rearing of all three rare butterflies 
• The Nature Conservancy continues efforts to protect the Karner blue butterfly and Mitchell’s satyr in Michigan.  
• The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has a State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) to conserve wildlife, including rare butterflies.  
• Michigan Nature Association’s Karner blue nature sanctuary 
• Kalamazoo Nature Center’s Butterfly monitoring workshops 

 

Support rare butterflies

There are various ways to support butterflies, including the rare species: plant host and nectar plants, help with prairie restorations, and many of the efforts that support native pollinators will also help rare butterflies. However, much of the support for Michigan's rare butterflies can be done by supporting the organization with conservation efforts, targeting these rare butterflies. Learn more about how to support these organizations by visiting their websites in the previous section.