Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Southern Ontario Wildlife => Topic started by: BetCrooks on June 13, 2013, 12:02:05 PM

Title: How Long Have These Butterflies Been in Ontario?
Post by: BetCrooks on June 13, 2013, 12:02:05 PM

While visiting Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga yesterday I saw two of these lovely blue butterflies.
[attachment=0:32dlia7f]RedSpottedPurpleWhiteAdmiral.jpg[/attachment:32dlia7f]

I was rather surprised to find out when I looked them up that they are just White Admirals in a southern disguise.
Has this variant been common north of Lake Ontario for long? (I haven't been out looking for butterflies in years, and even then it was mostly in eastern Ontario.)

They sure were a pretty sight, although I was careful not to look too closely at what one was feeding on. : )

Title: Re: How Long Have These Butterflies Been in Ontario?
Post by: newfoundlander61 on June 14, 2013, 08:30:02 AM

Appear to be in its normal range:

http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/WhiteAdmiral_e.php