skip to main content

Butterfly Garden

What are some of the rarest butterflies?

13 years ago

I was just sitting here reading the threads in this forum and i got to thinking, what are some of the rarest butterflies out there? Two I came up with are the Palos Verdes Blue butterfly, which is apparently only found in the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southwest Los Angeles County in California, and the Queen Alexandras Birdwing butterfly, which is found in the forests of Oro Province in Papua New Guinea and is the largest butterfly in the world! Does anybody have any others they can share with me? Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

runmede
13 years ago
The Xerces Society has a "Red List" for butterflies and moths that are becoming more rare.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red List of Butterflies and Moths
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
13 years ago
New lepidoptera are being discovered all the time. Over 900 new ones were found in 2006. If we don't even know it exists, it is probably pretty rare.

The "Red List" is good for seeing what might be on its way to extinction in North America unless it gets help.

When I do my moth/butterfly talks in schools, I get to hear about the birdwing butterflies from the kids. "It is bigger than any moth." "It is up to 15 inches across." I eventually did the research and found out that the white witch moth has the largest documented wingspan (around 12" - depends what angle the wings are spread) and the atlas moth has the largest documented wing surface area. So, Ornithoptera alexandrae is the biggest butterfly but moths rule the record books. :D

KC
Related Discussions
What are some deer-resistant butterfly plants
Q
Comments (7)
Does anyone know if they like verbena Bonariensis? Great plant for attracting up north but I can't remember if the deer eat it..Zinnias work great too but I know the deer ate them in our cutting garden at work (even though they weren't one of their favorites.) How about lavendars? Or Garlic chives? Marigolds? I often get skippers on them. Still thinking... Maryann in CT
...See More
Rarest Butterflies
Q
Comments (1)
Thanks for posting the link. I really did enjoy reading the write up on Neonympha mitchellii. While interesting, the rest of it is argumentative for me though (but I think you expected that from me). Most of the species listed in steady decline at various levels of rareness have been well known for decades. Some are still in decline, some holding their own with help and rarely some do show the begining signs of a come back. But there are many other species in this country that are nearly as rare, just as rare or even rarer than some of them as well not listed. Lepidopterists publicizing serious decline or possible extinction of any species globally might do some good in getting them protected and get others on the bandwagion to try to save them, but unfortunately it also serves to alert those that will go to collect them for their collections anyway, and those that would take all in sight before they are gone to sell to collectors worldwide for the almighty buck. Being listed on ESA, CITES, etc, or even in a protected reserve wont stop either. It hasn't in the past becasue enforcing their protection is nearly impossible to do, even in reserves and national parks. A couple of examples that Lepidopterists couldn't save... the now long presumed extinct Parnassius clodius strohbeeni that was lost as much or more from over collecting as habitat loss over 50 years ago; also presumed extinct for maybe 25 years for the same reasons is Lycaeides idas lotis. There are lots more already gone forever, and even more heading for extinction that collectors continue to try to obtain. Locally, many of the species only found in the Spring Mountains have not seen for years now (not just the Icaricia shasta charlestonensis on the list in this article), so some of them are presumed to be or very near extinction. Unfortunately last year massive fires took out much of the best remaining habitat there for some of the species. Over collecting has been a priority for some people in those mountains I'm sure for many years. Larry
...See More
What are some books for identifying butterflies and caterpillars?
Q
Comments (0)
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies by Robert Michael Pyle The Butterflies of Cascadia by Robert Michael Pyle Butterflies of Houston and Southeast Texas by John and Gloria Tvetan The Butterflies of West Virginia and Their Caterpillars by Thomas J. Allen Butterflies through Binoculars - The East by Jeffrey Glassberg Butterflies through Binoculars - The West by Jeffrey Glassberg Butterflies through Binoculars A field, finding, and gardening guide to butterflies in Florida by Jeffrey Glassberg, Marc C. Minno, John V. Calhoun Butterfly Gardening for the South by Getata Ajilvsgi A Field Guide to Caterpillars (Butterflies Through Binoculars Series) by Thomas J. Allen, James P. Brock, and Jeffrey Glassberg Florida Butterfly Gardening by Minno and Minno Kaufman Focus Guides: Butterflies of North America by Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman Peterson Field Guides - Western Butterflies by J. W. Tilden and Arthur C. Smith Peterson Field Guides - Eastern Butterflies by Paul A. Opler and Vichai Malikul Peterson First Guides - Caterpillars by Amy Bartlett Wright Peterson First Guides - Butterflies and Moths by Paul Opler Image by: Stuart_S Butterfly Forum Library
...See More
One of the rarest cactus on earth
Q
Comments (32)
fof, He was as tough as the lands he favoured, but a big-hearted man with unlimited time to answer questions about EVERY difficult plant, and many not-so-hard, that he grew magnificently well. I can still hear his disagreeing 'Bah!' when someone within my hearing was complaining to him about how hard it was to sprout Mamm. luethyii or an obscure Ariocarpus. He has, ICYDK, a plant named for him, typically cryptic and obscure - Pediocactus peeblesianus f. menzelii. I'm pleased he touched your life, too. I'll bet he's tickled pink about it as he sips his 5 pm G&T. Somewhere on the Web is a cactus ID / photo site that has pictures of all of his plants which he kindly shared with the world.
...See More
bev2009
13 years ago
I was going to say the Karner blue butterfly, which lives in the midwest...and is on the red list. I planted the cat host plant, wild lupine, hoping to attract them and then found out they only travel very short distances. So there is pretty much zero chance of them every visiting my yard. I have never seen one. At the one nature center that does have them, they won't let you walk in the area where they hang out. I might get lucky some time and see one at the Dunes state park, but they are very small, 1" wingspan, so I could easily miss them.
runmede
13 years ago
Even butterflies that travel a short distance will have a year that they expand their territory. So don't give up.
jlk7807
Original Author
13 years ago
That Karner blue butterfly is amazingggg. So pretty! And kc, those moths are huuuuuuuge! That atlas moth is gorgeous!
bev2009
13 years ago
Runmede, thanks for the info. I'll see if I can't increase the lupine patch. I know they like the oak savanna. We do have oak trees on our property, although I don't know if it is the oak or the whole system they are attracted to.

The conservationists are trying to establish way stations, probably similar to the Monarch way stations, to encourage the Karner to increase their range. I believe they are working on every 1/2 mile, since that is as far as the Karner normally travel. I am 4.8 miles from the Dunes, although there could be some patches closer. I need to look into this and see if they are looking for any residential help.
ladobe
13 years ago
Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis holds the title of the rarest catalogued species worldwide.

While Ornithoptera alexandrae is on CITES Apendice I, it's not rare in it's native habitat. A fair size portion of the income in PNG comes from the farming of them and other Ornithoptera and Troides species for sale to collectors.

Another species that is very rare here in NA is Boloria eunomia ursadentis.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 20 Favorite Flowers for Butterflies and Bouquets

By Marianne Lipanovich

Discover perennials and annuals that do double duty as butterfly magnets and versatile cut flowers

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Help Monarchs and Other Butterflies by Planting Common Milkweed

By Pollination Press LLC

Summer-blooming Asclepias syriaca is an important larval host plant for the monarch butterfly and attracts a number of pollinating insects

GARDENING GUIDES American Lady Butterflies Add Delight to Summer Gardens

By Pollination Press LLC

Provide native nectar and larval host plants to welcome these migratory butterflies

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Autumn Sage Brings Color and Butterflies

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Whether you live in the arid desert or the humid South, you'll likely find this deer-resistant beauty as irresistible as winged creatures do

Are Butterflies the New Birds?

By Samantha Schoech

Let these pretty winged creatures be the new totem of hip décor

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

FALL GARDENING What Monarch Butterflies Taught Me About Garden Design

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Thinking like a butterfly leads to fresh perspectives in the garden and in life

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Butterfly Milkweed, a Beacon in the Prairie

By Pollination Press LLC

Vivacious orange flowers for you, nectar for the butterflies and bees. Asclepias tuberosa is worth planting for more reasons than one

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Steps to Creating Your Butterfly Garden

By Debbie Ballentine

Encourage these fanciful winged beauties to visit your garden while helping restore their fragmented habitat

Sponsored

More Discussions

?what to do with this little guy?

3