Florida's most endangered butterfly may not have survived Hurricane Irma

Florida Museum of Natural History
The male Miami blue’s wings are iridescent blue on top.


Hurricane Irma didn't hurt the endangered Key deer, but it may have all but wiped out the most endangered butterfly in Florida.

Since the storm passed through in September, only a single Miami blue butterfly, another resident of the Keys, has been spotted there, according to Marc C. Minno, co-author of the book Butterflies of the Florida Keys.

Even if a couple more turn up there, Minno said, "they're doomed. They're found only on these isolated islands in areas that take the full brunt of hurricanes and sea level rise."

However, another butterfly expert says it's too soon to tell whether Florida has seen the last of the Miami blue. Andrew Warren of the Florida Museum of Natural History suggested waiting until spring to be sure.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/floridas-most-endangered-butterfly-may-not-have-survived-hurricane-irma/2342661