Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Southern Ontario Wildlife => Topic started by: JTF on September 09, 2009, 08:35:26 PM

Title: Monarch Butterfly
Post by: JTF on September 09, 2009, 08:35:26 PM

Presqu'ile Park Brighton

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/3891260030_181a448313.jpg)

Title: monarch mimickry
Post by: Howieh on September 09, 2009, 09:47:52 PM

Nice shot Paul but it's actually a viceroy (pretends to be a monarch so the birds won't eat it:)). It's been a lousy year for many species of butterflies here in Toronto but I've never seen as many viceroys on the Leslie Street Spit as I have this year. In fact, Attila, if you see this post, it suddenly dawned on me that those orange butterflies you saw in Rotary park were probably viceroys as well.

Title:
Post by: GStuart on September 10, 2009, 08:48:04 AM

For future reference, the easiest way to tell them apart is that black line that parallels the margin.  There is a side by side comparison shot on --> this <-- (http://www.kidzone.ws/ANIMALS/monarch_butterfly.htm) page.

Title:
Post by: RKD on September 10, 2009, 01:11:07 PM

Learn something new everyday. I too would have called Paul's beautiful photo a Monarch.  Guess the Viceroy is also slightly smaller. I'll now look more closely next time I see an orange butterfly. Thanks Howieh.

Title:
Post by: Moira on September 10, 2009, 08:22:02 PM

Very nice to see.  I thought I was taking pics of a Viceroy at Rosetta McClain, because it was smaller than my memory of a Monarch.  I did look it up and as said previously, the black line is the give away.  I'm hoping to go to the Spit this weekend; hopefully I'll get a few shots.

Title: late season butterflies on the spit.
Post by: Howieh on September 10, 2009, 10:55:23 PM

You're welcome RKD. The goldenrod is past peak but the new england asters are still near full bloom so there should be lots(?) of fresh monarchs and sulphurs on the spit this weekend, with a few well worn viceroys also still around. I was at the Don Valley Brickworks today and saw one viceroy and several sulphurs (watch for mating sulphurs for the next few days). I think the swallowtails are pretty well gone but I've seen several fresh red admirals and a few painted ladies lately so butterfly season isn't over yet.

Title: Ref: Butterfly
Post by: JTF on September 11, 2009, 07:22:33 AM

Awesome help with the name, never heard about a Viceroy, thanks alot. I will google it to learn more.