Endangered Butterflies

Nabokov'sBlues Threatened

Vladimir Nabokov, the famous author of Lolita, was also a lepidopterist. He studied and named butterflies known as Blues. He was interested in butterflies both scientifically and literarily. In his novel Pnin Nabokov wrote:

A score of small butterflies, all of one kind, were settled on a damp patch of sand, their wings erect and closed, showing their pale undersides with dark dots and tiny orange-rimmed peacock spots along the hindwing margins; one of Pnin's shed rubbers disturbed some of them and revealing the celestial hue of their upper surface, they fluttered around like blue snowflakes before settling again.

This butterfly, Karner's Blue, named by Nabokov, is among several threatened with extinction. More here.

Blues At Risk
Karner Blue Lycaeides melissa samuelis USA Fire suppression in pine barrens limiting food plant, Lupine
Andean Blue Pseudolucia andina ChileRabbits eating its food plant, Astragalus
Top and Under Wings of Southern Blue Southern Blue Pseudolucia sibylla Argentina-Chile border Livestock grazing its food plant, Adesmia