Pilot Year for Propagation of the Purplish Copper Butterfly (Lycaena helloides)

Abstract

This year staff members of the Kalamazoo Nature Center attempted the pilot year propagation of the threatened species Purplish Copper Butterfly (Lycaena helloides; PCB) at the Heronwood Field Station (HFS) greenhouse in Kalamazoo. The PCB is a threatened species of Butterfly within Michigan, United States of America. The purpose of the study was to propagate the increase the PCB population within Michigan. Propagation occurred between June and September, threatened species of butterfly to hopefully but unfortunately, only two caterpillar emerged during the propagation. Literature indicates that the conditions within the greenhouse were too humid for the PCB too survive, which we believe was augmented primarily because of global warming.