{"id":9348,"date":"2022-10-13T20:54:58","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T00:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=9348"},"modified":"2022-10-13T20:54:58","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T00:54:58","slug":"black-swallowtail-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/black-swallowtail-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Black Swallowtails Spend the Winter in Ontario?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One cool but sunny and dry October morning, I saw a large butterfly arrive in my back yard. Of course, I grabbed my camera and stealthily stalked slowly out the side door to shoot around the corner of the house.<\/p>\n

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

How Many Flights of Black Swallowtails Fly Each Season in Southern Ontario?<\/h2>\n

Some southern Ontario butterflies have several generations between spring and fall. Others only have one generation take wing after each winter.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nA Silvery Blue<\/em><\/p>\n

For example, near where I live, you only see Silvery Blue butterflies on the wing once a year. Once one generation has flown to mate and lay eggs, no more emerge to fly until the following year.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nAn Eastern Tailed-Blue<\/em><\/p>\n

However, Eastern Tailed Blues in this neighbourhood have at least two generations. The first flies, mates, lays eggs, and is gone. For weeks, I will not see a single Blue butterfly. Then poof, out bursts another generation and suddenly I’m sharing the path again with patrolling Blues.<\/p>\n

According to the ROM Field Guide to Butterflies of Ontario, Black Swallowtails in southern Ontario typically have two generations.<\/p>\n

Do Black Swallowtails Over Winter As Adults?<\/h2>\n

Again, according to the ROM guide, a Black Swallowtail usually over winters as a chrysalis.<\/p>\n

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

That does not bode well for this October visitor to my garden. It’s unlikely that it can find a mate, create eggs, and have the caterpillars from those eggs reach the chrysalis stage before winter sets in.<\/p>\n

In the spring, though, I will hope to be proven wrong by seeing one of its offspring!<\/p>\n

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