Pipevine swallowtail. Red-spotted purple. Long-tailed skipper. Many Florida butterflies are even more spectacular than their names suggest. Several species of butterflies, however, are in serious decline, particularly in South Florida.

The Miami blue, which once was common across the southern tier of the state, was last seen on Bahia Honda, in the Florida Keys, in February 2010. Though still found in a national refuge off the Keys, it appears to have vanished from the Keys themselves, and from the Florida mainland.

No Zesto’s skippers have been seen in Florida since 2004, and Schaus’ swallowtail is found only in a few places in the Keys. The Florida leafwing is in serious trouble, as is the Bartram scrub hairstreak.

Scientists believe that habitat destruction and fragmentation are the greatest threats to butterfly populations. Other factors may include loss of native vegetation, particularly tropical hardwood hammocks, changing weather patterns, invasive plants and animals, and pesticide use. But no one knows for sure why some populations are disappearing.

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