Interestingly, the (European Common Blue) is one of the most frequently encountered species here west of Montreal. As far as I have learned they arrived here first about a decade ago having probably arrived on a plane from Europe at Mirabel airport north of the city ... they seem to have liked what the found and are spreading happily.
I had a nasty moth experience as a child, but I’ve come to appreciate them as an adult. I generally do butterfly count. Last year was quite bad here but this year is much better.
Very interesting. I’m no butterfly expert, but I certainly enjoy the ones I see. The monarch migration is certainly one of the most interesting events in North America.
That's great to hear that you're seeing a light increase in butterfly numbers on those areas, Juliet. I've noticed that some urban areas here in Ottawa have begun planting community planters with flowers and plants to help support buttterfly habitat.
The journey the butterflies make from here in Canada to the southern USA and Mexico and beyond is quite impressive when I look at the distances on a map. Where do the butterflies in the UK migrate to in Autumn and Winter?
Thanks Neil. Only a few of our butterflies migrate, the Painted Lady being the main example, which migrates to North Africa and the Middle East. Some of our butterflies hibernate as adults, mostly the Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. The rest only spend one year as adults and overwinter as eggs, caterpillars or pupae, depending on the species.
Interestingly, the (European Common Blue) is one of the most frequently encountered species here west of Montreal. As far as I have learned they arrived here first about a decade ago having probably arrived on a plane from Europe at Mirabel airport north of the city ... they seem to have liked what the found and are spreading happily.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/european-common-blue-butterflies-montreal?tab=about
That's really interesting, I had no idea!
I had a nasty moth experience as a child, but I’ve come to appreciate them as an adult. I generally do butterfly count. Last year was quite bad here but this year is much better.
Very interesting. I’m no butterfly expert, but I certainly enjoy the ones I see. The monarch migration is certainly one of the most interesting events in North America.
That's great to hear that you're seeing a light increase in butterfly numbers on those areas, Juliet. I've noticed that some urban areas here in Ottawa have begun planting community planters with flowers and plants to help support buttterfly habitat.
The journey the butterflies make from here in Canada to the southern USA and Mexico and beyond is quite impressive when I look at the distances on a map. Where do the butterflies in the UK migrate to in Autumn and Winter?
Thanks Neil. Only a few of our butterflies migrate, the Painted Lady being the main example, which migrates to North Africa and the Middle East. Some of our butterflies hibernate as adults, mostly the Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. The rest only spend one year as adults and overwinter as eggs, caterpillars or pupae, depending on the species.
That's an amazing journey for those that do migrate.