{"id":8477,"date":"2021-07-28T14:50:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T18:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=8477"},"modified":"2021-07-27T20:50:45","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T00:50:45","slug":"european-common-blue-lands-in-mississauga-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/european-common-blue-lands-in-mississauga-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"An (Un)Common European Blue Lands in a Meadow in Mississauga"},"content":{"rendered":"

All spring I have been on the lookout for a “New Blue” in my neighbourhood meadow. I read a report by B. Curry that he had seen a European Common Blue butterfly in Oakville on May 25. They have been reported from sites in Toronto for a couple of years. I really wanted to find the first ones in my neighbourhood–but I was actually at least the second person to see them here. One July morning when I visited my nearby meadow, I met Mr. Moss who was taking photos of a fresh female European Common Blue.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThis is a male European Common Blue.<\/em><\/p>\n

What Is a European Common Blue Butterfly and What Is It Doing in Canada?<\/h2>\n

We have several small native blue butterflies in south Mississauga. These include Azures, Silvery Blues and Eastern Tailed-blues. Their caterpillars each eat different plants. Their males all have a mostly-blue upper side but the patterns on the undersides of the wings vary quite a bit.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThe orange cones combined with the white outlines around the black markings make it pretty easy for me to tell this is a European Common Blue as the local Azures and other Blues don’t have this combination of markings.<\/em><\/p>\n

In 2005, butterfly watchers near Mirabel Airport in Quebec reported seeing a new Blue: a European Common Blue which normally is found in Britain and Europe. It was believed that the butterflies arrived in Canada courtesy of a plane.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nAt least one female European Common Blue, like this one, must have landed in Quebec!<\/em><\/p>\n

Gradually, these little Blues have been spreading. Like many insects, plants, and even some birds, they seem to spread first along highways and railway lines and then disperse further out.<\/p>\n

In Europe, these Common Blues’ caterpillars often eat a clover-like plant with bright yellow flowers called Bird’s-foot Trefoil.<\/p>\n

And luckily for Canadian native insects, here in Canada, these European Common Blues’ caterpillars are still happy to grow up eating Bird’s-foot Trefoil. Yes, our “introduced alien” butterflies are eating the “introduced alien” plant from their homeland.<\/p>\n

What Is Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Where Did It Come From?<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

If you’ve noticed a lot of small bright yellow flowers growing along the roads or paths in southern Ontario, you may have noticed Bird’s-foot Trefoil. It is thriving and spreading rapidly. It doesn’t mind being mowed.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nYep, all that yellow is Bird’s-foot Trefoil !<\/em><\/p>\n

It is a plant that arrived from Europe and like many others has spread far and wide in North America.<\/p>\n

Are There Other European Butterflies in Ontario?<\/h2>\n

Other “introduced alien” plants in the meadow near me include Queen Anne’s Lace, Chicory (Bachelor’s Buttons), Ox-eye Daisy, Crown Vetch, Tufted Vetch and Teasel. I think both the Bird’s-foot Trefoil and the European Common Blues likely feel right at home in Mississauga!<\/p>\n

\"Photo <\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cabbage White butterflies are also from Europe, by the way. European Skippers too.<\/p>\n

For what it’s worth, Monarch butterflies have also been introduced to other countries around the world.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed seeing these new Blues and as long as they keep eating an introduced alien plant and don’t impact the lives of our native plants and insects, I wish them welcome.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n