It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – September 2018
by Angela Lassam
More butterflies this summer!
It appears we have been treated to many butterflies in our gardens this year. There is a variety of possible reasons but some say it is just Mother Nature doing her ‘thing’.
The cold winter destroyed many parasites. This was helpful to many insects including butterflies. Yellow jackets are one of the most destructive eating butterflies in the caterpillar stage and as they emerge from the chrysalis whilst they are drying their wings before flight. The parasitic wasp is another killer. It is called a parasitoid which lays its eggs in the caterpillar of many butterflies and feeds on it throughout this stage. Spider mites are a common pest too. You can swab them with rubbing alcohol which kills them on contact or use an insecticidal soap which will not harm butterflies. Dawn dish soap solution is a natural alternative. Any pesticides used will taint plants and butterflies will not use them. Swallowtails have a defense where they emit a foul odor from an appendage on their head although it is not very successful. Another advantage from the cold winter was the killing off of mold.
The surge in temperatures in spring encouraged heavy leaf growth and subsequently provided good protection for the eggs laid. Later this allowed the caterpillars to roam freely under the leaves. Birds could not find them so easily.
There are many butterflies in Ontario so here are just a few with certain characteristics. Monarchs and swallowtails are very distinct and are the ones we most recognize. A tortoiseshell could be mistaken for a monarch but the lower wings have a black line through them not found on a monarch. They can be found as far as Northern Ontario. Their caterpillars feed on nettles. Commas are also orange and black but they have yellowish dots on the lower wing edges. The mourning cloak is black, blue and yellow and is one of the first to arrive and lay its eggs in willow and poplar. The adults like tree sap and any rotted fruit. The viceroy is another one similar to a monarch but it stays all winter and hibernates. The late caterpillar will cocoon itself in a willow leaf and wait until the catkins form in spring when it will emerge to change into a chrysalis and then an adult.
Migration of butterflies has already started and only a few cabbage whites and sulphurs can be seen. Migration charts can be followed online www.maps.journeynorth.org/maps. There is also a website that is doing research into numbers of Monarch butterflies and if you would like to participate or follow it just take a look at the following www.mission-monarch.org .
A good trip to maybe see monarchs and other butterflies is to visit the Point Pelee region where many of them rest before going south for the winter. Leamington is slowly becoming the ‘butterfly town’ to visit but anywhere there are shrubs on the shoreline of Lake Erie you may find resting butterflies later in the day especially late August when they start and into October depending on the weather.
If you would like to read and see many pictures of butterflies browse the following website…………very enjoyable! https://insectsofsouthernontario.ca/category/butterflies/
Everyone can be commended in the efforts to return some space to wild habitat and grow wild flowers. Gardeners have been encouraged to leave a corner for wild flowers and to plant many different flowers for the nectar as food. Farmers have been asked to participate in programs to nurture wetlands. Roadside spraying has been stopped allowing wild flowers to return. Nurseries sell plants and shrubs with labels specifically showing their benefits to insects. Everyone seems to have a desire to make our environment more natural.
A reminder for the junior gardeners who participated in the program and congratulations to all those who had their gardens judged. The Pizza Party and awards will be on September 25 @ 5.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium Tillsonburg Community Centre. A big thank you goes to all of those who planted a garden and the parental encouragement.
The Photo Competition is coming up at the next meeting and details can be found in the Tillogram or on the website. Please take out your photos and participate – there will be prizes and results at the November meeting.
The next monthly meeting will be on Tuesday October 2nd @ 7.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium Tillsonburg Community Centre. The speaker will be Andrew Fleet of Growing Chefs! Ontario. He will talk about getting children excited about wholesome, healthy foods. All welcome. Check us out on Facebook tillsonburghorticultural and our website at tillsonburghorticultural.ca. Visitors are welcome so come join in and become a member for extra benefits.