Rare ‘Bog Elfin’ Butterfly Discovered in Vermont After 21 Years of Search; What Makes This Insect So Elusive?

A rare and elusive butterfly species called Bog Elfin was discovered for the first time in Vermont flying at one of the state's protected natural areas.

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/ Charles J. Sharp)

What is a Bog Elfin?

The Bog Elfin (Callophrys lanoraieensis) is a butterfly species that belongs to the Lycaenidae family. Its name is derived from its fine, hair-like markings which extend across the under surface of its hind wings.

This elusive butterfly is a tailless insect with a wingspan of just ⅞ inch to 15/16 inch (22 to 24 millimeters). Females are recognized for having brown dorsal wing surfaces while those of the males are orange.

Bog Elfin butterflies take flight during the springtime months from May to June where the adults perch on tree tops or fly around during sunny weather. They are also restricted to just the northeastern region of North America, having a NatureServe global ranking of G3 which means "vulnerable".

These rare butterfly species are hard to find because they spend most of their life high in the canopy of the black spruce trees where they lay their eggs. Some threats to this species include peat mining and pesticide spraying for spruce budworm and black fly.

A Two-Decade Search

On May 19, biologist Bryan Pfeiffer visited an undisclosed bog in northern Vermont with the goal of confirming the presence of an elusive bog elfin. He has spent 21 years trying to find this particular butterfly species which had never been recorded in the state. Finally, his efforts had finally paid off.

The 65-year-old entomologist was 44 when he first embarked on this mission equipped with binoculars and a butterfly net. He is also a part of a team which compiled the first-ever Vermont Butterfly Atlas.

According to non-profit organization NatureServe, the Bog Elfin has likely suffered from long-term declines and appears to be non-existent in most suitable bogs. For Pfeiffer, spotting this butterfly in Vermont is so important because until it has officially been seen, it will be impossible to fight for its preservation.

Pfeiffer noted that it took him years to fully realize the insect's habitat and aeronautics, which was crucial in his search. He suspected that his failures during the first decade were somehow due to ignorance and mistakes in looking in the wrong places and at the wrong time.

For the last few years, his search has been limited to just one bog with many spruce trees. He had also experienced a number of false alarms after spotting similar-looking species such as the Pine Elfin. When he decided to visit a new bog, he knew that the butterflies he spotted were something different. After confirming his search, Pfeiffer immediately called retired veterinarian and amateur naturalist Josh Lincoln who also spent time looking for the butterfly. According to Vermont Center for Ecostudies project lead Kent McFarland, the historic sighting of Bog Elfin will be featured in the second edition of Vermont Butterfly Atlas.

Pfeiffer does not plan to state publicly where he found the Bog Elfin in order to prevent tourists from visiting the site. He also noted that he would keep visiting Vermont bogs in the hope of seeing more creatures. Additionally, Pfeiffer encourages other people to go out and look for butterflies similar to Bog Elfins.