The Butterflies of June Along the Credit River Valley in Southern Ontario

June seems to have burst not just into floral bloom but into a bounty of butterflies. Everywhere I’ve walked this month, I’ve seen flashes of colourful wings and erratic, wobbling flights. Some of the butterflies have been purposefully patrolling along pathways or the edges of the tree line. Others have been perched sipping from flowers or drawing up minerals from damp patches of ground. And judging by the number of birds I’ve watched catching caterpillars, some of these butterflies have been laying eggs to start the next generation.

Photo of Black Swallowtail Butterfly Female on NaturalCrooksDotCom
A Female Eastern Black Swallowtail explores the riverbank reeds and rushes.

Spring Butterflies at Riverwood Conservancy and Other Spots Along the Credit

Here are just a few of the ones I’ve been able to capture an image of before they danced away.

Photo of Butterfly Orange With Veins and Dark Edges on NaturalCrooksDotCom

One of many types of “LOBJ” or Little Orange and Brown Jobs which I hope to identify soon.

Photo of Red Admiral on Dames Rocket June 2015 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

A Red Admiral, probably a recent migratory arrival.

Photo of Butterfly Orange With Dark Margins on NaturalCrooksDotCom
A different, perhaps, LOBJ, needing id.

Photo of Duskywing June 2015 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
A Duskywing, possibly a Juvenal’s, possibly not.

Photo of Duskywing Type on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Another Duskywing, probably also a Juvenal’s.

Photo of Butterfly Blue Side View on Yellow Flower on NaturalCrooksDotCom
A plain brown butterfly, or ….

Photo of Butterfly Blue Inner Wing View on Yellow Flower on NaturalCrooksDotCom
is it a startlingly blue butterfly? Also to be identified.

Photo of Butterfly Black With Orange Spots on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Another LOBJ possibly the same type as one earlier, possibly not.

Photo of Mystery Skipper on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Ditto!

Photo of Red Spotted Purple June 2015 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
A White Admiral disguised as a Red-spotted Purple.

Photo of Eastern Comma on NaturalCrooksDotCom
A torn and battered survivor this Eastern Comma has made it through the winter and through a busy spring of defending its territory along a gritty path.

Photo of Eastern Comma on Grit Path on NaturalCrooksDotCom
If you look at the lower part of the wings, you’ll see a narrow white U shape. That’s the Comma that gives the butterfly its name.

Photo of Unknown Orange Butterfly on NaturalCrooksDotCom
I’m not really sure who this was, either. There are so many Red Admirals around that the other flashes of orange and black are easy to overlook. Others have seen Painted and American Ladies. There are still some Commas and Question Marks hanging on. And soon there will be Fritillaries. Any guesses are welcome!

Are These Two Even Butterflies or Moths?

Photo of Unknown Creekside Butterfly or Insect on NaturalCrooksDotCom
I was sure this brown and white insect flying in a butterfly-like pattern around a small drainage stream was a butterfly: until I saw this photo. Now I’m not so sure but I’ll try to find out.

Photo of Black with Wide White Stripe Butterfly Moth on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Similarly, these vivid black and white ones are flying around in the shade but I’m not sure they are butterflies.
Update 2015 06 05: These are probably “White-striped Black” moths. I’ll have to try to get a much closer look to confirm that, though.Trichodezia albovittata.

Also Seen But Not Photographed (Well) Yet This Year Along the Credit

Photo of Yellow Coloured Swallowtail on NaturalCrooksDotCom
This photo is from last year. Yellow coloured Swallowtails are plentiful but mostly way up high so far.

Photo of Yellow Coloured Swallowtail in Distance on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Or occasionally down lower but still making themselves difficult to photograph. This is my closest shot so far this June.

Photo of Little Wood Satyr 2014 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
This Little Wood-Satyr from last year has lost a bit of its wings but it posed for me unlike this year’s crop.

 Related Reading

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9 thoughts on “The Butterflies of June Along the Credit River Valley in Southern Ontario

  1. Found this on my pear tree. Taken the last week of May.2016 Can you tell me what it is please.

  2. The first picture under the “Are These Two Even Butterflies or Moths?” section is a dobsonfly! Very cool. That one has small pinchers, which means it’s female, so it’s a good thing you didn’t try to touch it– they bite.

  3. Today February 26 in ottawa Canada came home to find a swallowtail in my condo..I have it resting on the side of a box,in a closed off room..what to do?..its winter and this is bizarre..tomorrow I will go buy some parsley and dill perhaps..help!!

    • Sorry I didn’t see this until today. Unfortunately, there won’t be much that can be done for your butterfly. As adults they get nourishment from some flowers and sometimes from mud. But they don’t live long enough to last until spring. I doubt it can lay fertile eggs, even if female, without a male. If there happened to be a conservatory with flowering plants nearby, you could set it free inside. Otherwise, I guess all you can do is admire it. Sorry!

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