The Florida Museum of Natural History is re-establishing the Miami blue butterfly, a species at risk of extinction.
In the museum’s lab, hundreds of the endangered butterflies are being bred monthly to gain insight on larval survival, growth rates and host plant preferences, said Sarah Steele Cabrera, a research technician with the study.
The population of the Miami blue butterfly today is less than a fraction of one percent of what the population was in the past, Cabrera said. It is at risk of extinction, but the lab ensures the species will continue. They are also studying how to reintroduce the Miami blue and other endangered butterflies in the wild.
“Ultimately, I hope to see the Miami blue thriving in many self-sustaining populations throughout its range,” Cabrera said.
The Miami blue is one of the rarest butterflies in South America, Cabrera said. Many native pollinators are declining due to human activity and studying the Miami blue can help the Florida Museum better understand the threats facing other pollinating insects, she said.
Jaret Daniels, the head researcher of the Miami blue, said even though the animal is just a butterfly, it’s an important species to save. He said their study should go on until at least 2019.
“We carry a lot of cool organisms that people see but have never heard of,” he said. “These organisms are important and make Florida a unique place to live. We should not be dismissive about animals becoming extinct.”
