Nearby Butterflies: What’s Flying in the Meadows of Mississauga?

I love this time of year–everywhere I look there are butterflies and flowers. What’s not to like? Here’s a selection of some that I’ve seen on my July walks through the meadows of Mississauga and Oakville.

Photo of Northern Crescent Top Side Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom Photo of Northern Crescent Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Photo of Northern Crescent 3 Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom Photo of Northern Crescent 2 Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Northern Crescents often perch and flap their wings open and shut.

When’s the Best Time of Day to Find Butterflies?

Photo of Dun Skipper on Goldenrod Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
This Dun Skipper was a new name for me to learn.

Photo of Black Swallowtail White Sweet Clover on NaturalCrooksDotCom
This Black Swallowtail refused to perch.

There’s only one problem with butterfly hunting on a hot, humid summer’s day: They don’t seem to want to be out and about in the early morning when it’s still cool enough for a comfortable walk.

Photo of Common Wood Nymph Sheridan on NaturalCrooksDotCom
This Common Wood Nymph perched on the path beside a basking bee to warm up.

Butterflies seem to prefer to hide until nearly 11 a.m. and then they start to appear sunning on leaves and paths or seeking nectar and sap to refresh themselves. I particularly notice this when I walk along a straight path and then re-trace my steps an hour or two later. Where nothing fluttered on my first pass, suddenly the Queen Anne’s Lace, Chicory and Yarrow are alive with wings on the way home. So if you’re not seeing much, you may have to adjust when you walk.

Photo of Eastern Tailed Blue Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Eastern Tailed Blues often rub their wings together. I wonder if it makes an interesting sound to attract partners?

Are There Fewer Butterflies This Year?

Photo of Monarch Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
I saw my first Monarch bombing along the grass too fast for a clear photo.

I keep meeting people who say they’ve seen far fewer butterflies this year. I’ve only been looking for local butterflies for the past three years so I don’t have an opinion on whether numbers are up or down. All I can reply is that I’m seeing lots of butterflies–although perhaps I should be seeing even more.

Photo of Cabbage White Sheridan On NaturalCrooksDotCom
There’s certainly no shortage of Cabbage Whites near here.

Report Your Butterfly Sightings to e-Butterfly.org To Help Build Some Data For Analysis

Photo of Banded Hairstreak White Sweet Clover Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom Photo of Banded Hairstreak Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Banded Hairstreaks don’t mind whether they are upright or upside down.

I’ve also started reporting my butterflies to an online resource at eButterfly.org. Over time, these types of programs can help researchers. They may use them to find a certain type of butterfly quickly. Or they may be able to spot patterns that are useful. There seem to be some hiccups with this program (I even received an email warning me of problems) but I am using it anyway and hoping for the best.

Photo of European Skipper on Vetch Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom Photo of European Skipper on Vetch Top Sheridan Meadows Mississauga ON Canada 2016 July 10 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
e-Butterfly.org experts helped identify this as a European Skipper.

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