Butterflies

Name: Monarch Butterfly Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus Status: Special Concern Provincially and Nationally Details & Range Map: R.O.M.

Butterflies represent about 10% of the insect order Lepidoptera, with moths comprising the other 90%. At present, a lot more is known about the distribution and status of butterflies than moths. Moths generally receive less attention, because most of them are less colourful than butterflies and active mainly at night.

Ontario is home to 148 butterfly species (excluding those species ranked as accidental). Approximately 20% of these species are of provincial conservation concern.

According to the General Status of Species in Canada (2010), well over half of butterfly species are ranked provincially as secure, with another 15 as sensitive (species that are not believed to be at risk of immediate extirpation or extinction but may require special attention or protection to prevent them from becoming at risk), while 17 species are considered may be at risk. There are two exotic butterfly species in Ontario — the Cabbage White and the European Skipper — both of which are common and widespread. In the General Status of Species in Canada (2010), ‘exotic’ refers to species that have been moved beyond their natural range as a result of human activity. Provincially, the term invasive (or invading) species is used to describe introduced species whose introduction or spread threatens the environment, the economy or society, including human health.

As part of the National General Status assessment process (i.e. Wild Species Series), butterflies were assessed in 2000 and in 2002 and again for 2010.

 
The main threat to butterflies is the change and loss of suitable habitat. Butterflies associated with vegetation communities that are endangered in Ontario, such as pine-oak barrens and tallgrass prairies, are particularly vulnerable. In fact, the two species that are extirpated in Ontario (Frosted Elfin and Karner Blue) are both associated with pine-oak barrens.

For more information on butterfly and other Lepidoptera species, see the list of species on the Natural Heritage Information Centre(NHIC).

For more information on Species at Risk designations and their current status, see the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) website.

Photography
Stock image from PhotoDisc