A Look at Butterflies in 2008

Southern (Northern) Hairstreaks

This past summer and early autumn was quite exciting for butterflies. It was an exceptional year in my opinion for rarities and sheer numbers of some species. Some of the rare species were immigrants from the south. Butterflies will migrate something like birds. Weather conditions have much to do with appearance of certain species of butterflies.
Things seemed to get off to a slow start last spring with the cool and damp weather. In early June, I went to a new conservation area north of Wallaceburg and found lots of butterflies, including Juvenal's Duskywings. I knew this had to be a place to check frequently in the summer. In fact, many of the conservation areas have good spots to attract butterflies. Moore Wildlife Management Area has always been one of my favourites.
On 22 June, things really got going. I started at Moore WMA and then moved to McKeough CA. There I found a Baltimore Checkerspot which I thought was cool. There were many other species around as well. I then went to the new area just south of there. I found some hairstreaks, not realizing what they were at the time of photographing them. On the computer screen I knew they were something I had never seen before. After some research, I had a pretty good idea, but had to get some confirmation. Later that evening, I was told for certain that I had Southern (Northern Oak) Hairstreaks! These are very rare in Ontario! Since I had seen at least three of them, the possibility of a colony there was suggested. In the next few days I saw many individuals of both female and male in various conditions. Obviously I had discovered a colony—something never before seen in Canada!

I kept it relatively quiet, but told several friends whom I could trust. For about two weeks I observed the Southern Hairstreaks, until 9 July when I observed one very worn individual.
During my outings, I discovered Southern Hairstreaks at another location, many kilometers from the original location. It was probably a satellite colony at Moore. It was 29 June that I observed a worn male there. On 5 July, I found a fresh female at Moore.

abherrant Southern Hairstreak

It was really an exceptional year for hairstreaks, as I observed hundreds during the month of July where-ever their foodplants were abundant. Some milkweed plants had as many as ten individuals each! Banded and Hickory Hairstreaks were quite numerous, and to a lesser degree Coral and Edwards’.
Other species such as Gray Hairstreak were very abundant this past summer. I observed my first one of the summer at Southwold Earthworks, Elgin 6 August. I was quite excited as it was the first one seen in years for me. Other sightings included ones at Point Pelee National Park 9 August, 23 August, 3 September (3), 14 September, and Rondeau Park 21 Sept (3). I also had one on Pelee Island 11 August.

Another rare hairstreak from the south, White-M, made multiple appearances in southwestern Ontario. I was extremely excited to find one on Pelee Island 12 August.
The only Juniper Hairstreak was one I briefly saw at Point Pelee 9 August.

The Skunk’s Misery butterfly count 6 July was rather productive. Unfortunately I did not bring my camera along for the count. We observed a Green Comma which turned out to be a first record for Middlesex County. It is common farther north. Other species of note that day included Gray Comma (2), Baltimore Checkerspot, Meadow Fritillary, both Southern and Northern Cloudywing, and Compton’s Tortoiseshell. We also had several Coral and Acadian Hairstreaks.
At Reid CA, I found a nice colony of Broad-winged Skippers. It was neat to see these slow and weak fliers in amongst the reeds.

Also at Reid, I saw two Dukes’ Skippers, which was another excellent rare find, especially for Lambton County. I did not get photos of them, but I will be back next year!

Dukes' Skipper on East Beach Point Pelee

It was a good year for skippers. Horace’s Duskywings bred at Point Pelee and I saw a few individuals of that species in September.

A Peck’s Skipper at Point Pelee 3 September was significant as it was the first record within the park since 1996. Peck’s Skippers seemed abundant in late summer in many spots, and I observed a late one at Port Lambton 6 October.
Fiery Skippers made another annual appearance with many at Sturgeon Creek, Essex in October. I also saw some at Blenheim 12 October.


Many sightings of Common Checkered-Skipper were made by various people. I observed my first ever 11 October in Point Pelee National Park.

common Checkered-Skipper (head-on!)

Earlier that day I found the rare Ocola Skipper in Point Pelee. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was something special.

Ocola Skipper

Fritillaries were abundant as well. At Dorcas Bay 6 September I observed Aphrodite Fritillaries. Meadow Fritillaries were seen in various spots, and the rare Variegated Fritillary made a good showing in southern Ontario late summer and into fall. I observed one at Rondeau Park 20 September, and another the next day. This species had never been seen at Rondeau until that week.

Rondeau Variegated Fritillary

Cloudless Sulphurs were plentiful this past summer, especially at Point Pelee and area. Although I did not see one there, I believe I had one pass through my yard here in Wallaceburg 8 July.
During the summer and early fall, I got out as much as I could into the natural world to look for butterflies. Sometimes the numbers and diversity were staggering. It was really interesting and certainly exciting at times!