What Is the Karner Blue Butterfly Predator?

Larvae and Eggs

• There are few confirmed predators of Karner blue larvae and eggs. Spined soldier bugs, paper wasps and some ants have been seen removing larvae, while the seven-spotted lady beetle has been confirmed to prey on them. Other insects are suspected but not confirmed.

Adults

• Spiders, robber flies, ambush bugs and dragonflies prey on adult Karner blues. Assassin bugs are suspected but not confirmed.

Parasitoids

• Parasitoids, or parasites that kill their hosts, also prey on the Karner blue. Main parasitoids include braconid and ichneumoid wasps as well as tachinid flies.

Vertebrates

• It is possible that birds prey on Karner blues. White-tailed deer also have been seen eating eggs, larvae and pupae, although this may be unintentional consumption as the deer grazes.

Defense

• As no intentional vertebrate predators have been confirmed, it is possible the Karner blue butterflies have some smell, taste, or toxin that serves as a defense against predators.