Although some have been established here for twenty years they are beginning to be noticed. You can count them on the fingers of one hand. But with weather and a changing climate, these three exceptional butterflies are gradually spreading. One of them is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, another has become the largest of our daily creatures, and the third is covered in blue. You’ll have a chance to meet them this summer.
Photo by Charles J. Sharpe, Wikimedia Commons
Of European origin, the magnificent peacock is now included in Quebec’s list of butterflies, which includes 136 diurnal species and nearly 3,000 nocturnal species. Well established in the Montreal area, it is relatively rare. The model opposite is drinking honey from a pink.
By by sea
Today it is considered the most colorful of our diurnal butterflies and one of the most beautiful in the world. English io, its scientific name, probably arrived in the Port of Montreal in 1996, and was discovered on Charron Island in May of the following year. Native to Europe, this peacock is a female that overwinters as an adult. Still rare, but established in the metropolitan area, European settlers had an incredible chance of survival in Quebec, says entomologist Etienne Normandin, author of the book. Insects and other Arthropods of Quebec.
“It is necessary for the insect to survive the winter, for the female to become pregnant, for her eggs to develop and produce viable caterpillars, and to find a suitable plant for their food,” explains the researcher.
Photo by Pierre Gingras, special collaboration
Peacocks that have arrived by sea, especially from Halifax or New York, are unloaded at the port of Montreal to settle in Quebec. This butterfly hibernates as an adult. Here is a sample taken at Boucherville on April 15th.
The director of the Montreal Insectarium, Maxim Larrivee, for his part, says that the absence of predators or parasites has greatly contributed to the survival of the species, especially from April to May, which reproduces on a small scale, that is, only once a year. Its very slow growth. We can see adults at the beginning and end of the season. Unlike other exotic insects such as the gypsy moth or the emerald ash borer, which wreak havoc on our plants, the peacock caterpillar feeds on nettles, which are widespread among us. However, the butterflies here have no competition.
Photo by Frank Wesson, Wikimedia Commons
Widespread in Europe, Blue Argus is, as its name suggests, an azure blue. It is now well established in Montreal and western Quebec.
By Airplane– cargo
Magnificent but also very modest in size, about three centimeters long, the blue argus arrived in Mirabell in 2005, probably with cargo from Europe, where it is widely known by many popular names, including common blue. But unlike the peacock, its progress is very rapid, as it breeds two or three times a summer. Still from Mirabel, it is now found almost everywhere in the metropolitan area, southwestern Quebec, Ontario, especially Toronto, Vermont, and New York in summer. It must eventually occupy the entire continent. “By dispersing in this way, they simultaneously avoid competition between themselves”, says Etienne Normandin.
Photo by Friedrich Boehringer, Wikimedia Commons
Sexual dimorphism is indicated in blue Argus. In the photo, a male and a female with folded wings (right).
As in Europe, local ants are also called according to Quebec soil, our experts explain. Adults sometimes lay eggs where ants raise aphids for their nectar. During its development, the Argus caterpillar also begins to produce honeydew, which makes the ants happy. In return, they ensure their safety rather than putting it on their menu. In addition, Maxim Larrivy emphasizes that blue Argus is not harmful. It feeds on sweet clover, birdsfoot trefoil and clover, common plants and does not compete with our native species.
Photo Mongo, Wikimedia Commons
The Great Hairstreak comes to us from America. It is spectacular for its colors and its impressive size. It is the largest of the diurnal butterflies in Quebec.
Crossing over border
About ten years ago, a large knot from America crossed the border itself. First reported at the Montreal Botanic Gardens in 2012, this fascinating insect has rapidly expanded northward since the turn of the century due to global warming.
With a wingspan of 12 to 15 cm, the great hairstreak is the most attractive of our day butterflies, even larger than our famous monarch. By the end of 19the A century ago, a population in the Outback survived for about fifty years, and the American population retreated southward for a period before their recent flight northward, without anyone really knowing why. The insect’s progress is due to a longer and warmer autumn, which allows the second summer generation to complete its life cycle before the first frost, explains Maxime Larivie, who participated in the main study on the large frogfish tail. The butterfly caterpillar feeds on keyboards, also known as prickly ash, but also feeds on rue des jardins or fraxinelle, an ornamental plant. Planting rue in the garden (be careful, the plant is allergic) helps to attract the butterfly, the director of poochium is experienced.
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