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Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Mission Blue Butterfly

Mission Blue Butterfly
Icaricia icariodes missionensis

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Mission Blue Butterfly
Icaricia icariodes missionensis

The Mission Blue Butterfly was first described in 1937 when the Twin Peaks area of San Francisco was still considered part of the “Mission” District.  It is a small, quarter-sized member of the Lycaenidae family, or "gossamer-winged" butterflies.  Male Mission Blue Butterflies are characterized by dark-bordered, silver blue to violet blue upper wings, while females have brown upper-wings with blue traces. 

An adult Mission Blue Butterfly only lives for 6-10 days.  During that time, the species tries to mate and lay eggs.  Females deposit eggs, usually singly, on one of three species of perennial lupines: the silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons) the Lindley varied lupine (L. variicolor) and the summer lupine (L. formosus).  Larvae hatch from the eggs 4-7 days later and begin a 3-week spree of munching on the inner parts of lupine leaves.  The caterpillars then crawl down to the base of the lupine, where they Mission Blue Butterfly Restoration Trip (c) Margo Borsremain dormant until the following spring.  After pupation adults emerge to begin the cycle anew.

Mission Blue Butterfly larvae have an interesting relationship with certain ant species. When the larvae are feeding in the spring, the ants will stroke the larvae with the ants' antennae, which causes the larvae to secrete a sugary fluid called honeydew. The ants crave this fluid and consume it. In return, it is believed that the ants protect the larvae from predators and parasites.

The Mission Blue Butterfly was protected by the Endangered Species Act at the same time as the San Bruno Elfin Butterfly: June 1, 1976.  Habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation are the main reasons the species is imperiled: even in protected parklands, the Mission Blue Butterfly is threatened by ordinary park maintenance and recreational uses that harm the butterfly and its plant hosts.

Nonetheless, the Mission Blue Butterfly exists within the GGNRA at Fort Baker in Marin County, and Milagra Ridge in San Mateo County.  The butterfly flies from late March until mid-June, a good time to search for the species. Sometimes they make it easy for you: the species has the unique behavior of actually sitting on its lupine host for a while.

Conservation Action Item

The Mission Blue needs your help restoring the habitat it needs to survive. Join the GGNRA and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy restoring Mission Blue habitats in Marin and/or San Mateo Counties.

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Previous Comments

Posted by: Joe | 2008-05-16 00:55:43

Why are special interest groups allowed to disrupt and destroy the habitat on the east sloap of twin peeks. One day every year a pink tarp is placed over the Mission Blues protected area, so a gigiantic pink triangle can be seen from miles around.
Actions like this keeps volunteers like me away!

thanks, Joe

 

Posted by: Steve Price | 2008-06-04 16:59:16

Sighting this beautiful blue butterfly was special. Living in Marin, I wanted to see the Mission Blue in the Headlands rather than traveling to Pacifica. Liam coaxed the information that the Mission Blue was flying now near the rifle range in the Marin Headlands. I took my camera and headed out there on a lunch break. It was sunny but windy, so the few butterflies that were up were shooting by me carried off by the wind. I saw the fluttering California Ringlets and a bright yellow butterfly that I didn't know before figuring I was out of luck that day. Then, suddenly, a small blue butterfly flew up and settled on a plant near the path. I snapped lots of pictures, sent them to Liam (the lepodopterist), and low and behold I'd been visited by a Mission Blue!