2015 (Photos: Rick Cavasin)

Home , Awenda Provincial Park, Callisto denticulella, Catocala connubialis, Cleora sublunaria, Dichagyris acclivis, Erynnis lucilius

Edited and Compiled by

Ross A. Layberry and Jessica E. Linton

Toronto Entomologists’ Association Occasional Publication # 46-2016

A Harvester sips honeydew from woolly aphids, its unique food source, in Larose Forest, Prescott-Russell, July 5, 2015 (photos: Rick Cavasin)

Harris' Checkerspots sipping on damp sand near Black River Road, Kawartha Lakes, June 13, 2015 (photo: Bob Yukich)

ISBN: 978-0-921631-47-2

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015

Edited and Compiled by Ross A. Layberry and Jessica E. Linton

March 2016

Published by the Toronto Entomologists’ Association Toronto, Ontario

Production by Jessica Linton TORONTO ENTOMOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION ONTARIO LEPIDOPTERA (TEA) Published annually by the Toronto Entomologists’ Association. The TEA is a non-profit educational and scientific organization formed to promote interest in insects, to Ontario Lepidoptera 2015 encourage co-operation among amateur and professional Publication date: March 2016 entomologists, to educate and inform non-entomologists ISBN: 978-0-921631-47-2 about insects, entomology and related fields, to aid in the Copyright © TEA for Authors preservation of insects and their habitats and to issue All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be publications in support of these objectives. reproduced or used without written permission.

The TEA is a registered charity (#1069095-21); all Information on submitting records, notes and articles to donations are tax creditable. Ontario Lepidoptera can be obtained by contacting an editor: Membership Information: Ross A. Layberry Annual dues: Co-editor and compiler of Butterflies and Skippers Individual-$30 6124 Carp Road Student-free (Association finances permitting – Kinburn, Ontario, Canada beyond that, a charge of $20 will apply) K0A 2H0 Family-$35 Tel: (613) 832-4467 Email: [email protected] All membership queries and payment of dues can be directed to Chris Rickard, Treasurer, T.E.A., 16 Mount Jessica E. Linton View Court, Collingwood, Ontario L9Y 5A9. e-transfers Summary Production and Co-editor of Butterflies and can be sent to [email protected] Skippers 245 Rodney Street Publications received as part of a TEA membership Waterloo, Ontario, Canada include: N2J 1G7  3 issues per year of our newsjournal Home Tel: (519) 489-2568 Ontario Insects Cellular: (519) 502-3773  annual Ontario Lepidoptera summary Email: [email protected] discounts on sales of other publications

The TEA Board

The TEA is run by a volunteer board. The executive COVER PHOTOGRAPHS officers are elected every two years. Front: Giant Swallowtail, Pelee Island, Essex (Photo: Bob Executive Officers: Yukich) President: Glenn Richardson Vice-President: Alan Macnaughton Back: Mourning Cloak Larvae, August 9, 2015, Jackpine Treasurer: Chris Rickard Trail, Bells Corners, Ottawa, and adult Mourning Cloak Secretary: (vacant) May 1, 2015, Stony Swamp, Ottawa. (Photos: Rick Cavasin) Board of Directors: Chris Darling: R.O.M. Representative Carolyn King: O.N. Representative, Publicity Co-ordinator Antonia Guidotti: Programs Co-ordinator Steve LaForest: Field Trips Co-ordinator

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

CONTENTS

General Inroduction ...... 2 Corrections to Ontario Lepidoptera 2014 ...... 3 Ackowledgements ...... 3 List of Contributors and Observers ...... 4 Ontario Butterfly Counts in 2015 ...... 10 An Observation of Courtship Behavior in the Red-disked Alpine, ...... 19 Forest Insect Survey Records...... 19 The Florida Duskywing, Ephyriades brunnea, a new species for Canada ...... 21 Apparent Lek Behaviour by Silvery Blue Butterflies ...... 27 Notable Observations from Bath, Ontario ...... 27 Noteworthy Moth Records for Ontario 2015 ...... 29 New County Records for 2015 ...... 33 Summary of Ontario Butterflies and Skippers in 2015 ...... 34 Abreviations Used in the Species Accounts ...... 36 Family: HESPERIIDAE ...... 37 Family: PAPILIONIDAE ...... 54 Family: PIERIDAE ...... 56 Family: LYCAENIDAE ...... 61 Family: NYMPHALIDAE ...... 72 Correspondence between plant names used in this publication and VASCAN names ...... 95 Checklist of Ontario Butterflies and Skippers ...... 98

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. TEA Counties, Districts and Regional Municipalities ...... 8

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. List of Contributors and Observers for 2015 ...... 4

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

GENERAL INTRODUCTION This issue of Ontario Lepidoptera includes fascinating articles by Ross Layberry on a new species record for Canada, the Florida Duskywing, Ephyriades brunnea, and the addition to the Butterfly Atlas of hundreds of larval records compiled by Forest Rangers across Ontario and submitted to the Forest Insect and Disease Survey. James Kamstra’s annual summary of Ontario’s butterfly counts, a short note on Courtship Behavior in the Red-disked Alpine, Erebia discoidalis, by Ellen Riggins, a description of observed lek behavior by Silvery Blue, Glaucopsyche lygdamus, by Ralph Thorpe, and notable observations from the Bath area by Dave Edwards and John Hall are also included.

It has been about 10 years since moth records have been included in the summary. Although moth records are occasionally submitted to the TEA, there has been no one available to compile and write up a summary on these records. This year Christian Schmidt, Ross Layberry and Alan Macnaughton, have compiled a summary of noteworthy moth observations for the summary. Christian is an Entomologist with the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes and a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada`s (COSEWIC) Arthropod Subcommittee. The intent is that Christian will continue to provide summaries of noteworthy observations although we are still seeking out an interested person to compile and report on other common moth records for future summaries.

As usual, the articles and notes are followed by the written summary of the 2015 Ontario butterfly records that have been submitted by our many contributors.

Data for all records of all butterfly species received for 2015 (much more data than can be included in the printed summary!) are included in a table available to TEA members as PDF files from Ross Layberry (see contact information below). The contents of this publication have been checked for errors and accuracy as much as possible. Please notify us of any corrections of errors or omissions, and these will be included in future issues of Ontario Lepidoptera and incorporated into the database.

Pages 95 to 98 show the correspondence between the plant names used in this publication and those in VASCAN – the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. This is a comprehensive list of all vascular plants reported in Canada, Greenland (Denmark) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France). VASCAN is widely accepted by botanists as the current authority for Canadian botanical taxonomy: http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/search

We will be accepting records, articles, notes, and photographs for Ontario Lepidoptera 2016 until December 31, 2016. Information on how to submit records can be obtained from the compilers. Please send any contributions to:

Jessica Linton Ross Layberry 245 Rodney Street 6124 Carp Rd Waterloo, ON Kinburn, ON N2J 1G7 OR K0A 2H0 Tel: 519-489-2568 Tel: 613-832-4467 email: [email protected] email:[email protected]

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

CORRECTIONS TO ONTARIO LEPIDOPTERA 2014

Page 9 one contributor was missed: Paul Philp, (PPh).

Page 32, line 5, Little Duskywing should read Little Glassywing.

Page 32, a new county record was missed: Edwards Hairstreak from Kenora.

Page 39, Common Checkered Skipper at the Carden Alvar: this record was actually a Common Roadside Skipper.

Page 50, photos of Western Pine Elfin and Bog Copper should be credited to David H. Elder.

Page 54, Cabbage White last line: the initial AGr resulted from a mis-spelling of a name, Ann Gray for Anne Gray. The initials should have been AG.

Page 58, Little Yellow, line 4: this record should have read “14 Long Dash Skippers”, not 14 Little Yellows.

Page 62, Banded Hairstreak, line 9: three were seen on June 26, not June 6.

Page 82, Painted Lady, line 2: the May 7 sighting was by Bill Lamond, WGL, not RJY.

Page 86, Hackberry Emperor: the earliest two reports from Kawartha Lakes (SuB) were actually Harris’s Checkerspot. This changes the entire 2014 report of the Hackberry Emperor, so this is redone here on page 88.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Ontario Lepidoptera would not be possible without the considerable effort of the contributors and observers (listed below) who take the time to submit their records each year. A special thank-you and welcome to our new contributors.

We would also like to thank those who submitted photographs from 2015, including: Rick Cavasin, Michael Dawber, David Kaposi, Ellen Riggins, Brenda Van Ryswyk, Ralph Thorpe, Jay Cossey, Jakob Mueller , Bob Yukich, Carolle Eady, Brenda Kulon, Diane Lepage, Arnet Sheppard and Bea Laporte.

Alan Macnaughton and Ralph Thorpe are acknowledged for reviewing drafts of this document.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS AND OBSERVERS Ontario Lepidoptera 2015 summarizes data and observations of butterflies and skippers for the 2015 season in the province of Ontario, Canada, received from the contributors and observers listed in Table 1.

Table 1. List of Contributors and Observers for 2015

INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE AA Alfred Adamo Toronto BPr Bob Prentice AaA Aaron Allensen BrD Brian Durrell ABe Alex Benvenuti New Liskard BrP Bruce Parker Port Stanley ABew A. Bewell BSp Bridget Spencer ABi Andrew Bigg BTa Barbara Taylor Bracebridge AdBe Adrianna Benvenuti New Liskard BTu Brent Turcotte North Bay AdK Audrey de Koning BVR Brenda Van Ryswyk Hamilton AEG Antonia Guidotti Toronto ByG Byron Gracey AFo Alison Forde CaE Carolle Eady Eagle River AGH Al Harris Thunder Bay CaWa Carolyn Waddell AiG Aidan Gowland CBe Catherine Benvenuti New Liskeard AIr Anne Irwin CBig C. Biggin ALa Amy Lawes CBl Chris Blomme Sudbury AlB Alban Beaulieu Ottawa CCor C. Cormier AlH Allan Harris CCr Colleen Craig Orillia AlHa Alex Hanright CDJ C.D. Jones Lakefield AlHo Alex Howard CDu Chris Duff AM Alan Macnaughton Kitchener CEl Claire Elliott AMLe A.M. Leger CGa Chris Gardner Ottawa AnBe Andrew Bendall CH Christine Hanrahan Ottawa AnDa Anjuli Dabydeen ChB Cherylee Black Ottawa ANe Antoinette Neilly ChF Christian Friis AnM Angela Massey Dryden ChT Chris Thompson APi Alice Pintaric CiCr Cindy Crease ARic Antoinette Richmond CK Carolyn King Willowdale ArM Arnie MacDonald CKi Claude King ARo Anne Robertson Kingston CLe Chris Leys ASh Arnet Sheppard Ottawa ClHa Claire Harvey ASi Arnie Simpson CLl Craig Lloyd AW Alan Wormington Leamington CMo Charlotte Moore Waterloo AWh Ann White London CoW Colin Walton BAM Blake A. Mann Wallaceburg CPR Chris Robinson Glenburnie BCS Chris Schmidt CR Chris Rickard Collingwood BeLa Bea Laporte Burrits Rapids CS Chris Schmidt Ottawa BER Bruce E. Ripley Kingston CWe C.Wegenschimmel BH Barry Harrison Scarborough CWo Chauncey Wood Hamilton BHa Breanna Hall DA David Allison Almonte BHo Brandon Holden Algonquin PP DaBo Dan Bone BK Brenda Kostiuk Ottawa DaC Dan Copeland Dundas BKu Brenda Kulon Bright's Grove DaDo Dave Don BMcC Beverley McClenaghan DaE David Edwards Bath BNC Barbara N. Charlton Waterloo DaHo Danielle Hosick BoA Bonnielee Armstrong DAS Don A. Sutherland Peterborough BoKo Bob Kortright Toronto DaW Dave Worthington Toronto

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE DBa Dennis Barry Oshawa JA Joanne Allen Dwight DBou Don Boucher JaCh Janice Chard DBr David Bree Carrying Place JaD Jason Dubois DBur Darlene Burgess JaHo James Holdsworth Bracebridge DD Don Davis Toronto JaK Jason J.D.King Tweed DdE David d'Entremont Guelph JakB Jake Boettger DEn Dan Engleking JaKe Jay Keller DFe Dave Ferguson JaRi Jan Richmond Algonquin PP DHE David H. Elder Atikokan JB Jerry Ball Peterborough DIr Dave Ireland JBar Joe Bartok Tweed DKa David Kaposi JCa John Carley Toronto DLe Diane Lepage Ottawa JCo Jay Cossey London DMcR Doug McRae Brighton JD Joanne Dewey Picton DMi Daniel Minor JeG Jeremy Gatten DMo Drew Monkman Peterborough JeHa Jeff Harrison Toronto DMoo Dave Moore Ottawa JeSi Jenna Siu DoCr Donald Craig JI Jean Iron Toronto DPy Donald Pye Wardsville JIn Jeremy Inglis Pembroke DRy Darryl Ryan JiT Jim Taylor DTy Don Tyerman Presqu'ile PP JJi Jennifer Jilks Rideau Ferry DwM Dwayne Murphy JK James Kamstra Port Perry EA Ethan Anderman Killaloe JKu Joseph Kurtz EAS Ellen A. Smout London JL Jeff Larson Harrow ELu Ethan Lu JLH Jeremy L. Hatt EMa Eliza Malcolm JLi Jessica Linton (Grealey) Waterloo EP Ed Poropat Haliburton JLon Joshua Lonuzzo Orangeville EPB Erica Barkley Charleston Lake PP JMB Jeremy M. Bensette ErG Eric Giles JMcL James McLaren Ottawa ERi Ellen Riggins Dinorwic JMF Janet Fenton Charleston Lake PP FBe Frederic Bedard JMu Jakob Mueller Ottawa FGi Fraser Gibson Kitchener JN Jeremy Newman Ottawa GC Geoff Carpentier Ajax JoAW Jo-Anne Woodbridge GCo Glenn Coady Whitby JoF John Foster Toronto GDu Gloria Durrell JoH John Hall Bath GeC Georgia Carley JoPl JoJo Plachta GeM Gerald Morris Sault Ste. Marie JoRA Jody R. Allair Port Rowan GlCu Glenda Curry JoRe Joanne Redwood GM Gillian Mastromatteo Ottawa JoV Josh Vandermeulen GPi Grace Pitman JPar Joan Parrott Port Hope GRa G. Rand JPo John Poland Kingston GrB Gregor Beck JPS Jean-Paul Soucy GRi Garth Riley JSi Jenna Siu GrS Greg Stuart JTa Jared Taman GRT Gary Tetzlaff Leamington JTF John T. Fowler Almonte HC Heather Campbell Windsor JTu Janet Tubb Toronto HoC Holly Cheel JuB Judy Barkley Williamsburg HoH Howard Herscovitch JuEl Julie Ellis HPi Heather Pickard Ottawa JuPa Julia Passeri HTh Helen Thorpe Ottawa JuPo Julie Power IDa Ian Dale Ottawa JuRe Julie Reid Cambridge IsAp Isabel Apkarian JVK J.V. Kopple IW Ian Woodfield KA Ken Allison Ottawa

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE KaB Kathryn Boothby MGi Mike Gillespie KaBu Karen Buschert MiKe Michael Kent KAn Karen Anderson Presqu'ile PP MiLe Mike Leveille Ottawa KaPa Kathy Parker MiP Michael Parker KaSh Karen Sherman MiQ Mike Quinn KaT Karen Thompson Almonte MJe Mark Jeays Ottawa KeMo Ken Morrison Algonquin PP MKel M. Kelch Kingston Field MKP Mark K. Peck KFN Naturalists Kingston MLa Max Larrivée Montreal KH Kurt Hennige Kingston MLi Margaret Liubavicius Toronto KHe Kate Hendry MLy Michael Lynch KiBa King Baker MNei Marianne Neily KIt Kris Ito MOl Michael Olsen Ottawa KKav Kevin Kavanagh MOli Mark Olivier KLa Karine Larson Harrow MPo Marilyn Poirier KLl Kathryn Lloyd Aurora MPr Maria Prisciak KMi Kent Miller MSD Michael Dawber Devlin KOs Kristen Osborne MVB Mike Burrell Heidelberg KPi Kari Pihlaviita NEa Nathan Earley Rockwood KRY Karen R. Yukich Toronto NGE Nick G. Escott Thunder Bay KS Kelly Stronks Dwight NGo Nick Godfrey KSe Kevin Seymour NiCo Nicolas Conroy KSp Ken Sproule NKa Nathan Kamstra KT Karla Thorpe NMu Norm Muir Toronto KTu Ken Tuninga NoS Nolie Schneider Ottawa LBe Luke Berg NRu Nicole Rulff LED L.E. Donnelly Toronto OCl Owen Clarkin LJ Linda Jeays Ottawa OMa Olivia Mariani LKa Lynda Kamstra ORe Oliver Reichl Larue Mills LMa Len Manning OSt Owen Strickland LMN Larry M. Novak PaT Paul Tavares Dundas LMW Liv Monck-Whipp PCar Paul Carter Sarnia LN Larry Neilly Ottawa PCh Pete Chapman Hungry Hollow LTu Laura Turcotte PDe Patrick Deacon LuF Lucas Foerster Algonquin PP PDP Paul D. Pratt Windsor LWa Leanne Wallis PDSm Paul Smith Hamilton LYo Luke Young PeHu Peggy Hurley MaFi Mark Fisher PeNa Peter Najeeba MaJ Marc Johnson PH Peter Hall Ottawa MaMc Malcolm McLean PiM Pilar Manorome MaNe Mark Nemanov Windsor PKe Peter Kenneley MaP Martin Parker PM Paul Mackenzie Kingston MaPa Maris P. Apse Grand Bend PMC Paul M. Catling Ottawa MarG Marcus Garvie PMcD Patrick McDonald MaTh Matt Thomson PMP Pedro M. Pereira MaTo Matthew Tobey PPP Presqu'ile PP Staff Presqu'ile PP MBr Mike Bryan Thunder Bay PPr Paul Prior MBW M.B. Worthington PRa Paul Rapati MC Margaret Carney Oshawa PSB Peter S. Burke London MCS M. & C. Seymour Kingston PSco P. Scott MEl Marve Elliott PTa Patrick Taylor MFi Mark Field RaG Rachel Goldstein

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE INITIALS OBSERVER RESIDENCE RAL Ross A. Layberry Kinburn ShPa Shari Paykarimah RaLa Rachel Law SLa Steve LaForest Oshawa RBa Reni Barlow Dunrobin SlHa Slobodan Halavanja RCa Rick Cavasin Ottawa SMar S. Marcoccia Toronto RCL Ruth C. Layberry Kinburn SMM S.M. McKay-Kuja RD Robert Difruscia Sarnia SoC Sophie Cardinal RDa Rahil Dahu SPu Sheila Pugsley RDo Ross Dobson Cornwall SRa Stephen Rapati Port Elgin REMR R.E.M. Routledge SRi Sarah Richer REP Rod E. Parrott Port Hope SRy Shauna Ryner Peterborough RGo Rachel Gottesman Toronto SSmi S. Smith RGT Ron G. Tozer Dwight SSt Summer Stevenson RHC Bob Curry Hamilton SSu Shawn Sullivan RHo Ray Holland Ottawa STP Stephen T. Pike Windsor RiW Richard Waters Ottawa SuB Susan Blayney RJo Roy John Ottawa SuBe Susan Bergeron RJPi Ron J. Pittaway Minden SuP Suzanne Perry Toronto RJY Bob Yukich Toronto SW Sarah Wood Hamilton RMa Reuven Martin Algonquin PP SZu Shirley Zundel RMC Rob M.Craig Peterborough TB Tony Bigg Lakefield RoDi Rob Dickinson TBe Thelma Beaubien Waterloo RoDo Ron Dobos TeAr Ted Armstrong RoJo Ron Johnston TH Tom A. Hanrahan Ottawa RP Rayfield Pye Oshawa TM Tom Mason Scarborough RRo Rob Routledge Sault Srt. Marie TMa Tracey Mapes Tweed RSn Rick Snider Parry Sound TRa Tony Rapati Port Elgin RT Ralph Thorpe Ottawa TrB Tristan Benschop RWo Ross Wood TRei Timothy Reichart RyR Ryan Rea TRS Rick Stronks Dwight SaSo Sajneet Sodhi TSk Tim Skuse SB Sue Bryan Thunder Bay VCa Victoria L. Carley Toronto SBr Susan Brown WF Walter Fisher Scarborough SCh Steven Chatfield Mississauga WG William Gilmour Sandbanks PP SFe Sheila Felske Eagle River WiB William Boettger SGa Sandra Garland Ottawa WIr William Irwin SGi Sara Gillespie St. Catharines WJC William J. Crins Peterborough SGr Steve Greidanus WL William Layberry Kinburn SHa Stephanie Haas XW Xi Wang Hamilton SHi Stephanie Hill YB Yvette Bree Carrying Place ShNe Sharon Nethercott Sarnia YDZ Y. Dan Zabelishensky ZB Zene Bigg

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Figure 1. TEA Counties, Districts and Regional Municipalities for the Purposes of TEA Publications (descriptions follow on Page 9). Mapping produced by Natural Resource Solutions Inc.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Counties, Districts and Regional Municipalities of southern Ontario for the purposes of TEA publications. The 4- letter codes listed below are used in the table of all butterfly records submitted from the 2015 season.

1 ESSE Essex County 2 KENT Municipality of Chatham-Kent 3 ELGI Elgin County 4 NORF Norfolk County 5 HALD Haldimand County 6 NIAG Regional Municipality of Niagara 7 LAMB Lambton County 8 MIDD Middlesex County 9 OXFO Oxford County 10 BRAN Brant County 11 HAMI Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth 13 HURO Huron County 14 PERT Perth County 15 WATE Regional Municipality of Waterloo 16 WELL Wellington County 17 HALT Regional Municipality of Halton 18 PEEL Regional Municipality of Peel 19 YORK Regional Municipality of York 20 METR Metropolitan Toronto 21 DURH Regional Municipality of Durham 22 NORT Northumberland County 23 PRIN Prince Edward County 24 HAST Hastings County 25 LENN Lennox and Addington County 26 FRON Frontenac County 27 LEED United Counties of Leeds and Grenville 29 STOR United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry 32 BRUC Bruce County 33 GREY Grey County 34 DUFF Dufferin County 35 SIMC Simcoe County 36 VICT City of Kawartha Lakes 37 PETE Peterborough County 38 MUSK District Municipality of Muskoka 39 HALI Haliburton County 40 RENF Renfrew County 41 LANA Lanark County 42 OTTA Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton 43 PRES United Counties of Prescott and Russell 45 MANI Manitoulin District 46 PARR Parry Sound District 47 NIPI Nipissing District 48 ALGO Algoma District 49 SUDB Sudbury District (including City of Sudbury) 50 TIMI Timiskaming District 51 RAIN Rainy River District 52 THUN Thunder Bay District 53 COCH Cochrane District 54 KENO Kenora District

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Ontario Butterfly Counts in 2015

By James Kamstra

Thirty-two butterfly counts that took place in Ontario in the summer of 2015, which is the highest number of counts to date. Most of the counts followed the protocols of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), where a one day count is conducted in a 15 mile (24 km) diameter circle. Nineteen of the counts were submitted to NABA for inclusion in the Annual North American Butterfly Counts Report. Two new counts were established in the Rainy River District, which are the first ones ever reported in northwestern Ontario.

A total of 91 species and one additional form were recorded among all Ontario counts. Compared to 97 in 2014 and 94 in 2013, so the total number of species reported was a little lower than average. Six of these species were only observed on one count. Manion Corners recorded the highest number of species with 58, followed by Haliburton Highlands with 56 species, and Long Point with 55. Five other counts tallied 50 or more species. The counts with the most individuals were Sunderland with 4,627, Toronto Centre with 3,601 and Haliburton Highlands with 3,390. Skunks Misery and Manion Corners tied for the most participants, each with 37. The count dates ranged from June 26 to August 8 with the majority taking place in the first three weeks of July.

No species were recorded on all counts but eight were found on 29 or more which is over 90% of the counts: Cabbage White, Clouded Sulfur, Summer Azure, Northern Crescent, Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Admiral, Monarch and European Skipper.

Several compilers reported that butterfly numbers as a whole were lower than usual. The spring of 2015 arrived late and was drier than usual resulting in a somewhat later emergence of summer species. The early part of summer was a little cooler than usual. There were no major movements of migrant species but Red Admirals were widespread. Question Marks were less numerous but Eastern Commas were more abundant than usual. Monarch numbers continue to be low, lower than in 2014 but not as low as the disastrous summer of 2013.

There were a few unusual finds on counts this year. Both of the Rainy River counts recorded Arctic Fritillaries, a species that has never been previously recorded on an Ontario count. Long Point tallied an impressive 517 Banded Hairstreaks. Petroglyphs count recorded seven species of hairstreaks. Three Duke’s Skippers were found at Windsor and as usual, Pinery was the only count to report Dusted Skipper. Some southern species continue to expand northward such as Little Glassywing at Bala and Wild Indigo Duskywing at Carden Plain.

All of the count names, codes and compilers are listed in Table 1 while Table 2 provides the species and numbers of individuals.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Table 1. Ontario Butterfly Counts and Compilers in 2015 Count Name Code Region / County Date Compiler Awenda Provincial Park Awen Simcoe 04-Jul Tim Tully Bala Bala Muskoka 27-Jun Allan Sinclair Cambridge rare Reserve Camb Waterloo 11-Jul Jessica Linton Carden Plain Card Kawartha Lakes 10-Jul Kristyn Ferguson Clear Creek Clear Chatham-Kent 11-Jul Heather Prangley Fenelon Falls Fen F Kawartha Lakes 22-Jul Dan Bone Haliburton Highlands Halib Haliburton 11-Jul Ed Poropat Hamilton Hamil Hamilton-Wentworth 05-Jul Bill Lamond Hog Island Hog Is Renfrew 18-Jul Jean Brereton Huron Natural Area, Kitchener HNA Waterloo 18-Jul Joshua Shea Killarney Prov. Park Killar Manitoulin 11-Jul Amy Adair La Vallee Emo La Val Rainy River 23-Jul Michael Dawber Lake Dore Lk Dor Renfrew 04-Jul Jean Brereton Long Point Long P Norfolk 04-Jul Adam Timpf MacGregor Point Prov. Park Mac Pt Bruce 02-Jul Kathleen Chayer Manion Corners Man Cr Ottawa-Carleton 04-Jul Jeff Skevington McGinnis Creek - Pinewood McG Ck Rainy River 27-Jul Michael Dawber Oshawa Osh Durham 12-Jul James Kamstra Otter Valley Otter Elgin 26-Jun Joe Stephenson Pelee Island Pel Is Essex 08-Aug Bob Yukich Petroglyphs Petro Peterborough 18-Jul Jerry Ball Pinery Prov. Park Pinery Lambton 29-Jun Brenda Kulon Presquile Prov. Park Presq Northumberland 08-Jul David Bree Rice Lake Rice Northumberland 27-Jun Val Deziel Rondeau Prov. Park Rond Chatham-Kent 12-Jul Pilar Manorome David Royal Botanical Gardens RBG Hamilton-Wentworth 11-Jul D'entremont Science North Sudbury Sci N Greater Sudbury 22-Jul Jacquie Bertrand Skunks Misery Skunk Middlesex 05-Jul Ann White Sunderland Sund Durham/York 05-Jul James Kamstra Toronto Center TorC Toronto 11-Jul John Carley Toronto East TorE Toronto/York 01-Jul Tom Mason Windsor Wind Essex 18-Jul Tom Preney

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Table 2. 2015 Ontario Butterfly Count Species and Numbers of Individuals

SPECIES

Osh

Bala

HNA

Card

Halib

Clear Killar

Awen Fen F

Hamil

Camb

La Val La

Man Man C

Hog IsHog

Lk Dor Lk

Mac PtMac

Long P Long

McG Ck McG

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun

------

Date of Count -

04 11 10 11 22 11 05 18 18 11 23 04 04 02 04 27 12 27 Pipevine Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail 14 6 3 3 1 3 1 6

Giant Swallowtail 1 2

Eastern Tiger 3 3 1 8 27 12 15 26 7 15 Swallowtail Canadian Tiger 6 3 30 2 1 8 1 Swallowtail Spicebush 2 Swallowtail Mustard White 62 13 27 1 4 14 26 10 26

Cabbage White 18 1 247 49 215 39 22 255 5 27 3 18 337 790 138 11 1147

Clouded Sulphur 4 162 53 51 47 48 218 12 6 7 3 127 46 60 22 338

Orange Sulphur 43 1 1 16 4 3 6

Pink-edged Sulphur 62 2 2 3

Harvester 2 1 2

American Copper 1 4 7 1

Bronze Copper 3 1 1 7 9 4 1 1

Bog Copper 144 25 9

Dorcas Copper 5 1 1

Coral Hairstreak 1 2 6 3 54 13 7 4 9

Acadian Hairstreak 4 3 25 21 1 1 5 1 80 26

Edwards' Hairstreak 255

Banded Hairstreak 1 4 34 20 1 6 1 517 6 3

Hickory Hairstreak 5 4 1

Striped Hairstreak 1 4 1 8 4 1 2 5 3 3

Gray Hairstreak 1

Eastern Tailed Blue 3 7 1 43 2 8 1 10 4 19

Spring / Cherry Gall 1 1 Azure Summer Azure 1 7 82 38 16 177 15 9 4 1 2 5 77 13 177 2 87

Silvery Blue 1 1 2

American Snout

Great Sprangled 1 1 20 26 83 6 67 43 2 7 2 4 31 21 74 4 100 Fritillary Aphrodite Fritillary 6 4 11 16 2

Atlantis Fritillary 21 2 2 11 1

Silver-bordered 1 7 1 1 1 2 1 4 Fritillary Meadow Fritillary 2 12 40 1 9 12 2 143 2

Arctic Fritillary 1 1

Harris' Checkerspot 2

Silvery Checkerspot 5 1 2 1 28

Pearl Crescent 3 12 1 46 3 12 51 7 2 15 7 41 6

Northern Crescent 30 22 28 49 24 10 273 115 4 2 4 25 18 574 163 36 15 201 Tawny Crescent

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

SPECIES TOTAL Max

Pine Rice

RBG Cts

Otter

Wind

Sci N Sund

Petro Rond E Tor

Pel IsPel Tor C

Presq

Skunk

Date of Count

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun Jun Jun

Aug

------

- - -

18 07 12 11 22 05 05 11 01 18

27 29 27 08 Pipevine Swallowtail 1 1 1 1

Black Swallowtail 11 1 2 1 5 1 7 44 1 110 44 17

Giant Swallowtail 53 2 2 60 53 5

Eastern Tiger 12 20 19 11 3 9 1 11 28 12 17 10 270 28 22 Swallowtail Canadian Tiger 2 2 55 30 9 Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail 5 2 3 12 5 4

Mustard White 12 69 264 69 11

Cabbage White 149 276 28 175 30 3 327 119 295 401 1260 421 149 6955 1260 30

Clouded Sulphur 68 100 154 2 15 26 31 6 85 315 182 4 2 2194 338 29

Orange Sulphur 9 150 2 1 6 42 1 25 7 15 24 356 150 18

Pink-edged Sulphur 12 81 62 5

Harvester 1 1 7 14 7 6

American Copper 3 3 19 7 6

Bronze Copper 1 1 7 36 9 11

Bog Copper 3 181 144 4

Dorcas Copper 7 5 3

Coral Hairstreak 69 3 12 24 7 7 221 69 15

Acadian Hairstreak 29 9 56 18 48 29 19 375 80 17

Edwards' Hairstreak 7 1 9 272 255 4

Banded Hairstreak 1 22 1 12 22 129 1 27 11 23 842 517 20

Hickory Hairstreak 2 20 1 33 20 6

Striped Hairstreak 6 1 10 8 17 3 1 78 17 17

Gray Hairstreak 4 5 4 2

Eastern Tailed Blue 2 34 2 1 1 26 4 15 41 5 27 256 43 21

Spring / Cherry Gall 2 1 2 Azure Summer Azure 59 256 47 14 21 2 25 1 30 128 603 135 181 2215 603 30

Silvery Blue 1 1 1 3 1 11 3 8

American Snout 1 20 2 1 24 20 4

Great Sprangled 27 69 36 26 2 2 6 157 155 5 27 119 1123 157 29 Fritillary Aphrodite Fritillary 51 1 1 92 51 8

Atlantis Fritillary 2 39 21 6

Silver-bordered 1 19 7 9 Fritillary Meadow Fritillary 5 31 259 143 11

Arctic Fritillary 2 1 2

Harris' Checkerspot 2 2 1

Silvery Checkerspot 34 3 2 76 34 8

Pearl Crescent 1 16 12 19 1 4 10 12 14 30 14 12 351 51 25

Northern Crescent 85 5 202 15 103 83 11 7 13 893 3 333 8 3354 893 31

Tawny Crescent 8 9 17 9 2

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

SPECIES

Osh

Bala

HNA

Card

Halib

Clear Killar

Awen Fen F

Hamil

Camb

La Val La

Man Man C

Hog IsHog

Lk Dor Lk

Mac PtMac

Long P Long

McG Ck McG

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun

------

Date of Count -

04 11 10 11 22 11 05 18 18 11 23 04 04 02 04 27 12 27 Baltimore Checkerspot 51 112 23 4 7 2 9 1 3

Question Mark 2 1 4 2 2 4 10 4 2 4

Eastern Comma 1 10 21 1 30 21 2 2 2 39 26 17 1 10

Green Comma 2 1 2 2

Gray Comma 1 5 6 4 21 9 1 1 4 2 1 24 2 2

Compton Tortoiseshell 20 12 1 1 2 1

Mourning Cloak 8 7 6 3 9 3 1 3 2 1 2 6 10 7

Milbert's Tortoiseshell 2 2 5

American Lady 2 1 6 1 3 6 2 3 1

Painted Lady 12 1

Red Admiral 2 13 250 6 32 7 1 4 9 3 107 5 9 2 44

Red-spotted Purple 3 4 3 1 13 2

White Admiral 33 10 19 10 113 3 8 2 10 29 20 24

Viceroy 2 3 10 1 6 7 2 1 5 3 20 1

Hackberry Emperor

Tawny Emperor 4 15

Northern Pearly-eye 15 14 10 8 39 38 5 3 3 1 7 12 2 63 1 36

Eyed Brown 1 79 1 8 179 78 6 11 6 12 8 24 255 2 42

Appalachian Brown 1 2 4 1 24 4 2 7 24 3

Little Wood-satyr 15 12 24 4 47 5 6 110 1 5 1 9 48 31 23 25

Common Ringlet 3 1 1 3 16 2 15 31 2

Common Wood-nymph 1 212 124 93 53 34 386 80 32 1 56 3 39 5 10 24 478

Monarch 1 2 5 11 20 11 26 7 9 27 1 11 12 3 25 11

Silver-spotted Skipper 3 3 52 6 1 116 1 100

Southern Cloudywing 2

Northern Cloudywing 1 1 3 3 10 17

Dreamy Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing 1

Columbine Duskywing 20 14 3

Wild Indigo Duskywing 2 1 6

Arctic Skipper 2

Common Sootywing 2

Least Skipper 1 6 3 2 62 2 2 69 18 15 20

European Skipper 95 215 46 297 174 8 1,155 252 4 315 59 25 53 2522 868 12 208

Fiery Skipper

Indian Skipper 1 2 1 3

Peck's Skipper 1 10 11 4 16 81 108 2 18 1 3 3 75 1 52

Tawny-edged Skipper 4 1 13 2 3 11 11 12 1 1 2 2 1 19 21 1 2

Crossline Skipper 1 1 7 4 10 1 1 2 1 8 7

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

SPECIES TOTAL Max # Cts

Pine Rice

RBG

Otter

Wind

Sci N Sund

Petro Rond E Tor

Pel IsPel Tor C

Presq

Skunk

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun Jun Jun

Aug

------

- - -

Date of Count -

18 07 12 11 22 05 05 11 01 18

27 29 27 08 Baltimore Checkerspot 49 116 10 52 439 116 13

Question Mark 4 7 1 5 1 10 11 6 20 14 28 142 28 21

Eastern Comma 6 1 6 28 2 8 1 3 51 23 29 42 11 394 51 27

Green Comma 7 2 4

Gray Comma 6 3 16 16 2 126 24 19

Compton Tortoiseshell 3 1 41 20 8

Mourning Cloak 1 1 9 5 10 53 7 4 158 53 22

Milbert's Tortoiseshell 4 1 1 2 17 5 7

American Lady 4 1 19 3 2 1 3 5 1 64 19 18

Painted Lady 1 1 1 12 1 1 30 12 8

Red Admiral 42 4 11 19 25 4 565 21 1 76 53 384 33 37 1769 565 29 Red-spotted Purple 3 39 41 5 2 1 2 119 41 13

White Admiral 23 3 2 19 11 339 113 17

Viceroy 3 7 1 5 13 2 10 3 25 130 25 21

Hackberry Emperor 11 2 13 11 2

Tawny Emperor 4 87 1 111 87 5

Northern Pearly-eye 24 1 5 17 5 5 7 13 52 2 28 2 418 63 28

Eyed Brown 75 1 21 6 2 142 42 1001 255 22

Appalachian Brown 1 10 31 13 12 139 31 15

Little Wood-satyr 80 3 72 28 59 122 1 694 40 28 101 49 1643 694 28

Common Ringlet 22 17 1 1 2 30 4 31 182 31 17

Common Wood-nymph 2 2 19 11 51 27 73 71 2 353 124 113 68 221 2768 478 31 Monarch 6 210 25 3 41 24 10 33 25 20 15 2 10 606 210 29

Silver-spotted Skipper 13 7 7 3 17 2 26 24 69 52 39 541 116 19

Southern Cloudywing 1 2 5 2 3

Northern Cloudywing 2 1 3 13 27 8 1 90 27 13

Dreamy Duskywing 1 1 2 1 2

Juvenal's Duskywing 3 1 5 3 3

Columbine Duskywing 107 1 145 107 5

Wild Indigo Duskywing 23 49 81 49 5

Arctic Skipper 2 2 1

Common Sootywing 5 2 1 4 14 5 5

Least Skipper 1 34 45 3 11 24 7 2 94 6 4 3 434 94 23

European Skipper 255 152 196 655 87 135 9 30 814 938 274 1212 6 11071 2522 30

Fiery Skipper 1 1 1 1

Indian Skipper 7 3 4

Peck's Skipper 4 8 5 1 1 1 8 127 1 1 4 547 127 26

Tawny-edged Skipper 8 8 1 3 97 5 11 3 243 97 25

Crossline Skipper 1 7 5 2 21 28 89 4 200 89 19

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

SPECIES

Osh

Bala

HNA

Card

Halib

Clear Killar

Awen Fen F

Hamil

Camb

La Val La

Man Man C

Hog IsHog

Lk Dor Lk

Mac PtMac

Long P Long

McG Ck McG

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun

------

Date of Count -

04 11 10 11 22 11 05 18 18 11 23 04 04 02 04 27 12 27 Long Dash 7 10 5 1 2 136 5 3 2 7 25 65 39

Northern Broken-dash 12 2 20 5 19 31 4 2 3 27 15 16

Little Glassywing 1 1 3 7 2 2 4 1 1

Delaware Skipper 4 3 5 1 71 20 2 2 3 8 91

Mulberry Wing 2 9 1 127 6

Hobomok Skipper 3 12 2 6 5 3 2 4 9 8 7

Broad-winged Skipper 2 1 8 1 2 55

Dion Skipper 6 2 1

Duke's Skipper

Black Dash 1 2

Two-spotted Skipper 1 2 2

Dun Skipper 7 19 5 93 111 30 12 22 6 9 45 27 47

Dusted Skipper

Common Roadside-skipper 1 1

UNIDENTIFIED

Papilio species 5 17 4

Pieris species 36 3 3 2 5

Colias species 3 2

Satyrium species 3 1

Blue species 2

Speyeria species 19 20 36 2 100

Boloria species 10

Phyciodes species 14 11 7 35

Polygonia species 3 5 3 9 15

Vanessa species 1

Lethe species 1 2 5 2

Erynnis species 5

Skipper species 2 23 13 17 3 2 5

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

SPECIES TOTAL Max

Pine Rice

RBG Cts

Otter

Wind

Sci N Sund

Petro Rond E Tor

Pel IsPel Tor C

Presq

Skunk

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun Jun Jun

Aug

------

- - -

Date of Count -

18 07 12 11 22 05 05 11 01 18

27 29 27 08 Long Dash 8 6 14 1 1 229 29 5 600 229 21

Northern Broken-dash 3 12 8 8 7 71 31 68 17 36 417 71 22

Little Glassywing 25 4 5 22 7 18 2 105 25 16

Delaware Skipper 38 3 7 33 39 27 5 3 365 91 19

Mulberry Wing 102 7 1 2 257 127 9

Hobomok Skipper 16 1 1 3 8 1 2 38 60 191 60 20

Broad-winged Skipper 156 2 2 8 237 156 10

Dion Skipper 23 2 34 23 5

Duke's Skipper 3 3 3 1

Black Dash 1 23 27 23 4

Two-spotted Skipper 4 9 4 4

Dun Skipper 14 431 1 7 87 53 17 9 1052 431 21

Dusted Skipper 2 2 2 1

Common Roadside-skipper 2 4 2 3

UNIDENTIFIED Papilio species 3 10 39

Pieris species 49

Colias species 4 9 18

Satyrium species 4 2 10

Blue species 4 6

Speyeria species 27 204

Boloria species 10

Phyciodes species 1 13 2 4 87

Polygonia species 3 3 2 43

Vanessa species 1

Lethe species 9 19

Erynnis species 5

Skipper species 13 1 16 25 12 2 134

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Count Totals

SPECIES

Osh

Bala

HNA

Card

Halib

Clear Killar

Awen Fen F

Hamil

Camb

La Val La

Man Man C

Hog IsHog

Lk Dor Lk

Mac PtMac

Long P Long

McG Ck McG

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Date of Jul

Jun

------

Count -

04 11 10 11 22 11 05 18 18 11 23 04 04 02 04 27 12 27 Total 25 22 30 48 44 39 56 48 36 15 23 29 40 55 38 58 25 50 Species Total 405 306 883 1240 1334 494 3390 2,088 201 111 423 234 208 2684 3842 2687 174 3357 Invididuals Ontario High 1 1 0 5 0 0 4 2 1 0 1 2 0 4 4 8 1 3 Counts NABA Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Count Observers 22 7 14 22 17 24 19 23 4 20 25 2 3 29 22 37 2 13 6 to Parties 4 1 4 6 3 7 10 7 2 1 3 1 1 9 1 6 23 Hours 7 6 22 29.5 17.5 73.8 36.8 12 2 24 6 8 58 40.8 6 49

Km on foot 15 3 10 24.6 32 70.6 5 5 15 4.5 5 56 58 6.5 42

SPECIES TOTAL Max

Pine Rice

RBG

Otter

Wind

Sci N Sund

Petro Rond E Tor

Pel IsPel Tor C

Presq

Skunk

Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul

Jun Jun Jun

Aug

------

- - -

Date of Count -

18 07 12 11 22 05 05 11 01 18

27 29 27 08 Total Species 36 25 58 43 31 25 41 20 12 53 52 39 42 49 91 58 Total 910 1281 2148 782 1105 346 1525 352 109 3294 4627 3601 2866 1248 48255 4627 Invididuals Ontario High 0 6 10 6 0 2 2 0 1 7 9 9 2 5 96 10 Counts NABA Count No No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Observers 7 4 18 9 18 19 12 6 22 37 25 33 20 10 545 37 Parties 6 2 9 4 5 6 6 3 4 10 12 9 4 4 150 12 Hours 21 13.5 61.5 20 45 28 8 34 97.5 57.5 29 18 830.85 97.5

Km on foot 17 19.5 32 29 60 16 32 106 80 44 21 808.2 106

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

An Observation of Courtship Behavior in the Red-disked Alpine, Erebia discoidalis1

Ellen Riggins

This afternoon (May 20, near Dinorwic Lake, Kenora) I followed a Red-disked Alpine with my camera, around a farm field like a crazy person for probably twenty minutes. I hope no one was watching! Then miracle of miracles, he dropped down and fell instantly in love with a female lurking in the grass!! They let me get right up on them. I took tons of photos and then let them get some privacy. I was just thrilled! See photo inside back cover.

Forest Insect Survey Records

Ross Layberry

Last year, through a series of unusual circumstances, I was able to access a valuable new source of data that produced a large number of old records for use in the Butterfly Atlas. The majority were larval records, mostly from northern Ontario, many from isolated areas which were previously completely empty on the atlas maps. This increased our total number of larval records by more than 50%, and for some species very much more than that.

The string of events began back in early 2010, when Maxim Larrivée, at the time a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Jeremy Kerr, at the Department of Biology at the University of Ottawa, got in touch with Glenn Richardson regarding Maxim’s project entitled “The Canada Global Change Transect2”. The main goal of the project was to determine if butterfly species distributions were adjusting over time with changing climate and land use. Maxim was planning on using TEA data of past butterfly records but wanted more, and especially current data. His request was published as a short article in Ontario Insects, Volume 15, Number 3, page 43. Shortly afterwards, Maxim received a response from Dr. Paul Syme, who had been a researcher with the Forest Insect and Disease Survey (FIDS) in Sault Ste. Marie. During his career Paul had accumulated an enormous amount of butterfly data on 3 x 5 inch cards, but had done nothing with it. So he sent it all to Maxim, five shoeboxes full of cards, about 55 inches of cards in total. Seeing the magnitude of the task at hand and the potential value of the data, after a few months Maxim passed on the boxes to me, and I put them away under a workbench and promptly forgot about them. In the fall of 2014 I happened on the boxes and pulled one out for closer examination. I saw immediately that this data was much too important to be lost.

I spent much of the winter working through the cards, one by one, and I soon found that they were of two different types. One type contained records of larvae sent back by Forest Rangers from all over Ontario to Forest Insect and Disease Survey in Sault Ste. Marie for identification. They included a limited range of species: only those whose larval foodplants were trees. These cards contained a

1 Editor’s note: this contribution to the summary is based on an email submitted to Ross Layberry and has been reporduced with the author’s permission. 2 http://data.nwtresearch.com/Scientific/15143

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______survey number, a seven-digit number which looked like a geographic coordinate for the location, the date of collection, the species name, the species of tree on which they had been found, the county, township, location and habitat, stage (larva or pupa), the number of specimens sent to Sault Ste. Marie, and the date on which the card was made. I entered all of this information into a spreadsheet.

The other type of card was museum records, listing the species name and detailing the label data of the specimens, ie county, location, date, collector’s name, museum, ID determiner (usually Paul Syme), the date on which this was done, and occasionally additional information. The collections covered were the Canadian National Collection (CNC), the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the University of Western Ontario Collection (UWOC), the Ontario Agriculture College Collection (currently the University of Guelph Collection (UGC)), and the Algonquin Park Collection; all records up to about 1970. The TEA database already theoretically contained all of the data from CNC, UWOC and UGC, so there was no need for me to make a new file of all of that data. But we had no collectors’ names for most of the data; these had been lost from our source, the file of the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (CBIF). So I compared the cards with the TEA database and added collectors’ names where possible. In doing this I found many records which we did not have at all; apparently more than just collectors’ names had been lost from the CBIF file. All the records which we did not have were entered into a spreadsheet. I put aside the ROM data, because we are currently working through that collection at the museum. I had never seen any data from the Algonquin Park Collection, so all of that data was added to the spreadsheet.

I georeferenced many of the larval records, but many were impossible with the limited information that I had. Also, I was missing all collectors’ names. So I made a trip to Sault Ste. Marie. I spent a pleasant afternoon with Paul Syme, and a very busy day at the Canadian Forestry Service. Kevin Barber explained to me how the Survey had worked, and introduced me to the concept of Enclosure Slips; these were slips filled out by Rangers and enclosed with shipments of larvae for identification. Other staff at FIDS identified the larvae and added the name of the species to the slips. Paul’s cards were copied directly from the Enclosure Slips. All of the Slips were preserved in a room filled with filing cabinets; butterfly records were very much less than 1% of the total, so the total number of slips was enormous. But I was able to navigate through the system and find a few of the Slips and compare them with Paul’s 3 x 5 inch cards. But I had almost 1,300 cards, so this was not a practical way of filling in missing data.

So Kevin introduced me to a computer technician, Ronald Fournier. He explained that the data from the slips had been digitized, and as a further backup the entire stock of slips had been scanned into a computer file known as the Enclosure Slip Warehouse. He explained that the seven-digit numbers from Paul’s cards were indeed geographical coordinates, but from an obsolete military grid system. These had been translated into regular UTM coordinates in the computer file, from which I could very easily find the locations. Unfortunately many fields in this file use code numbers rather than the readable data. He gave me the tiny part of this file with all of the butterfly records: all of Paul’s records, plus about 500 more which Paul had not seen. He also gave me access to the Enclosure Slip Warehouse, so that I could access them from home. Plus one more thing: a file of all collectors’ names with their code numbers.

So I now had three separate parallel sources of information, all locked together by the Survey numbers, but none of them complete: the file that I had made from the cards, the file from Sault Ste.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Marie, and the original Enclosure Slips. Plus I had the file of collectors’ names and code numbers. It was then just a matter of downloading the Enclosure Slips, one by one, pulling together all the data into a new file, and calculating latitude and longitude coordinates. I then converted both files, the larval records and the museum specimens, into the TEA format, and they were checked and added to the Interactive Maps in an update to the atlas last fall. There are a total of 1,775 larval records, of which 974 were of the Mourning Cloak. Take a look at the map of that species, they are very noticeable.

The Florida Duskywing, Ephyriades brunnea, a new species for Canada

Ross Layberry

In 1877 John Alston Moffat, a well-known Hamilton naturalist, caught a large dark skipper, in Hamilton, Ontario. He recognized it as being different from pylades and bathyllus, the Northern and Southern Cloudywings, with which it was flying, and kept it apart from these in his collection. It was examined by Dr. William Saunders, who had seen nothing like it. It was passed to W.H. Edwards, who sent word that it was new to him as well, and it was in his collection when it was seen by Joseph Lintner, who described it as a new species, Eudamus electra, in a long and very detailed description (Lintner 1881). By 1911 it was in the collection of Mr. W.J. Holland, of Pittsburgh, PA, and was seen there by Henry Skinner. Skinner wrote a long paper on four genera of large boreal skippers, including Eudamus (Skinner 1911) in which he reprinted Lintner’s original description and added more information from his contact with Moffat: the fact that it was described from a single female which had been “in company with another like it, which escaped capture”. He also reported that Moffat remembered the capture very well, and described the collection site: “The ground on which I found it is a flat surrounded on three sides by hills, and marsh on the other. Clumps of witch-hazel with open spaces, grass, weeds and ox-eye daisy in season were abundant. It was an excellent hunting ground for many things, but later it was turned into a cow pasture which altered its character greatly”.

This all came to my attention from a paper on New York Fritillaries (Dirig 2015), in which there is a brief mention on page 59 “Florida Duskywing (Ephyriades brunnea): Hamilton, Ontario, 1877, J.A. MOFFAT (Lintner, 1881; his holotype of the synonym Eudamus electra, at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, proposed in that paper, constitutes a specimen record of E. brunnea, a new butterfly species for Canada!)”.

I contacted Robert Dirig and received more information and he indicated: “I have seen Lintner's type of Eudamus electra at CMNH3 but did not photograph it.” He gave me detailed information about the labels on the specimen, matching those shown on page 25. He also gave me the name of the Curator and Chair of the Section of Invertebrate Zoology at the Carnegie Museum, John Rawlins. I emailed J. Donald Lafontaine at the Canadian National Collection, and Don contacted Rawlins about the species. His partial response is below:

3 Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

“Ephyriades… Today I located female holotype of Lintner’s electra…it is indeed, as many have attested, equal to brunnea. Bob Dirig visited a few years ago, and the type was seen and imaged by him. DNA was sampled from the holotype by Nick Grishin…he visited this last fall.” Dr. Grishin confirmed that he has samples from the holotype of electra and syntypes of brunnea from Berlin, as well as contemporary samples from all named taxa of all species in the genus, but these have not yet been analysed.

So there can be no doubt that the specimen caught in 1877 in Hamilton passed through the collections of J.A. Moffat, W.H. Edwards, and W.J. Holland, and finally finished up in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The question is “How did it come to be known as Ephyriades brunnea?”

It appears that Skinner was the first to suggest that the specimen was an Ephyriades: in the addendum on Page 208 (Skinner 1911) he writes that while visiting the Carnegie he saw a female of Ephyriades zephodes, and he immediately believed that electra was a male of that species. He also mentioned two specimens in the collection of the Academy [?] bearing the name Nisoniades zephodes; one of these has no locality label and the other was taken at Samana Bay, San Domingo [Dominican Republic], June 17, 1883, by Dr. W. L. Abbott. He has made at least one mistake here: the Hamilton specimen is a female.

In Barnes and McDunnough (1917), on page 199 in a “List of species omitted as European or foreign”, electra is listed as Thorybes electra Lintner. But in McDunnough, 1938 it was listed along with Ephyriades brunnea as a synonym of Ephyriades zephodes. In 1948 Bell and Comstock described floridensis as a subspecies of brunnea, so brunnea was clearly recognized as a separate species by then. And both dos Passos (1964) and Miller and Brown (1981) list the species as Ephyriades brunnea (= electra), ssp. floridensis. Finally, in Pelham 2008, it is stated that Ephyriades zephodes is extralimital, ie it does not occur in North America, clearing up any confusion there. That paper also states, as does its revision (Pelham 2014) that Eudamus electra is a junior synonym of Ephyriades brunnea, with no further explanation.

That is as far as I have been able to go, for an explanation. At some time between 1938 and 1948 it was recognized that E. brunnea was the only species of Ephyriades occurring in North America. This species had been described in 1865, probably from Cuba (Herrich-Schäffer 1865) but the North American subspecies floridensis was not described until 1948 (Bell and Comstock 1948), from Key Largo, Florida. To this day it has been found only in the extreme south of the state, north to the vicinity of Naples, and has not been noted to migrate. Nevertheless, the Canadian specimen must be regarded as a member of that subspecies.

The final questions, as always, have to be: how did it reach Ontario? Can its capture be considered a Canadian record, albeit that of a very rare migrant? Skinner, in his addendum (Skinner 1911) speculated that the most likely way was on fruit (bananas) as a larva or chrysalis. He knew the species only from Cuba, and I find it very hard to believe that fruit shipped from Cuba, or even from Florida in 1877, could have reached Hamilton before a pupa would have emerged. Were bananas even shipped to Canada, that early? And if so, did they reach beyond Montreal and Toronto?

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

In Florida the larval foodplants are the threatened Long Key Locustberry, Byrsonima lucida and Barbados Cherry, Malpighia glabra, both in the family Malpighiaceae, and I assume something similar in Cuba and the Bahamas. The preferred habitat for the Locustberry is pine rocklands and rockland hammocks (FNPS 2013) and for the Barbados Cherry, thickets, brushland (matorral) and palm groves (LJWC 2007). The habitat of the Florida Duskywing is similarly described as: tropical Pine-Sabal Palm Scrub (BAMONA 2016). I doubt very much if any of these described habitats is closely associated with banana plantations. The larvae live in leaf-nests on the foodplants and look similar to those of the Silver-spotted Skipper and the Cloudywings, whose larvae do not wander very much at all, pupating only in nests on the foodplant or on adjacent leaves. I believe that the chances of one of these stay-at-home larvae finding its way onto a bunch of bananas, and then surviving the long trip to Hamilton is zero. Or at least, closer to zero than the chance of one flying north, probably aided by strong southerly winds.

I prefer to believe that this is what happened, and that the species should be considered a stray, but still an addition to the list of species found in Ontario. We will never know for sure. But there is one other clue which perhaps favours this interpretation. The collector, Mr. John Alston Mofatt, in his response to Skinner, included one enigmatic sentence: “In that remarkable year (1877) entomologically, the species was captured”. What was remarkable about 1877? Could this perhaps have been referring to other unusual captures?

Taxnomic Terms4 The article on the Florida Duskywing uses several very precise taxonomic terms with which many people will be unfamiliar. Two of them refer to Type Specimens and there are several other similar terms, as well.

Holotype: When a single specimen is clearly designated in the original description, that specimen is known as the holotype of that species.

Syntype: any one of two or more specimens that is listed in a species description where no holotype was designated.

Paratype: When the original description designated a holotype, there may still be additional specimens listed in the type series and those are termed paratypes.

Allotype: a specimen of the opposite sex to the holotype, designated from among paratypes.

Neotype: a specimen later selected to serve as the single type specimen when an original holotype has been lost or destroyed or where the original author never cited a specimen.

Lectotype: a specimen later selected to serve as the single type specimen for species originally described from a set of syntypes.

Synonym: in taxonomy, synonyms are different scientific names of the same rank that pertain to the same taxon, for example two names for the same species.

4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_(biology)

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Junior synonym: in taxonomy, the earliest name given to a species has priority. Assuming that this earliest name is valid, all other names given to the same species subsequently are considered junior synonyms.

References

BAMONA (Butterflies and Moths of North America). 2016. Attributes of Ephyriades brunnea. Website available at: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Ephyriades-brunnea

Barnes, W. and J.H. McDunnough, 1917. Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Boreal America. Herald Press, Decatur (IL) 392 pp.

Bell, E. and W. Comstock, 1948. American Museum Novitates (1379): 17-18, fig. 14.

Dirig, R. 2015. Mexican and Variegated Fritillaries, Euptoieta hegesia and E. claudia, Nymphalidae, in Western and Central New York. Southern Lepidopterist’s News, Volume 37, No. 2 (2015) page 53-62.

Dos Passos, C.F. 1964. A synonomic list of Nearctic Rhopalocera. Lepidopterists’ Society Memoir 1. Pages 1-145

FNPS (Florida Native Plant Society). 2013. Byrsonima lucida Plant Specifics. Website available at: http://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/byrsonima-lucida

Herrich-Schäffer, Gottlieb A.W. 1865. Correspondenz-Blatt des zoologisch-minerologischen Vereins in Regensburg 18: 172

LJWC (Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Centre). 2007. Native Plant Database: Malpighia glabra. Online database available at: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAGL6

Lintner, J.A. 1881. Description of a new species of Eudamus. Canadian Entomologist 13 Volume 4, pages 63- 65.

McDunnough, J.H. 1938. Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Canada and the United States of America. Part 1 Macrolepidoptera. Memoirs of the Southern Calfornia Academy of Sciences 1: 1-275 pp.

Miller, L. and F. Brown. 1981. A catalog/checklist of the butterflies of America north of Mexico. Lepidopterists’ Society Memoir No. 2. vii + 272 pp.

Pelham, J. P. 2008. A Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera, Vol 40.

Pelham, J. P. 2014. A Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada. http://butterfliesofamerica.com/US-Can-Cat.htm

Skinner, H. 1911. The Larger Boreal American Hesperiidae, including Eudamus, Erycides, Pyrrhopyge and Megathymus. Transactions of the American Entomological Society Vol. 37, No. 3, 1911, pages 169-211.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Dorsal

Specimen Credits: www.butterfliesofamerica.com reproduced with permission from Nick Grishin

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Left: Leonard’s Skipper, Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve, Wellington, August 31, 2015 (Photo: Bob Yukich) Right: Great Spangled Fritillary, Crief Bog, Wellington, August 31, 2015 (Photo: Bob Yukich)

Left: Common Wood-Nymph, Dinorwic Lake, Kenora, July 7, 2015 (Photo: Ellen Riggins). Right: American Lady, Dinorwic Lake, Kenora, July 7, 2015 (Photo: Ellen Riggins)

Left: Monarch, Advent Road, Kenora, July 25 2015 (Photo: Michael Dawber) Right: American Copper, Canal Lake, Kawartha Lakes, August 15, 2015 (Photo: David Kaposi) 26

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Apparent Lek Behaviour by Silvery Blue Butterflies

Ralph Thorpe

In May 2015 at a site in Ottawa (at Lat. 45.3517, Long. -75.6839), beside a path west of McCarthy Road and McCarthy Woods, Silvery Blue butterflies were engaged in apparently unusual behaviour. Here on May 19 a mated pair was seen on a blade of grass and at least 3 others were fluttering near them and lit briefly on them (see photo inside back cover). At the same site on May 25 there was similarly a mating pair of Silvery Blue with 3 others in a fluttering frenzy around them. On May 27 the same was true except that about 8 others, generally one or two at a time, bothered two mated pairs. The site was a small grassy area about 25 feet in diameter that was partially surrounded by bushes. It was not distinct from most of the surrounding area, where about two Silvery Blue were recorded at each of 7 locations. This concentration of breeding activity at one specific site is reminiscent of the lekking behaviour of some bird species.

A lek is a communal area in which males of a number of species, of birds for example, gather to perform public displays to attract watching females. Moss (2007)5 noted that species that lek include grouse, manakins, some species of hummingbirds and several birds-of-paradise. Other bird species are prairie chickens, peafowl and bustards. Also several species of mammals. In the present case of the Silvery Blue it is not known whether the males or the females were the first to occupy the site.

When an account of the above Silvery Blue activities was distributed to the Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec Butterfly Group, Norbert Kondla quickly pointed out that lekking is known for some butterfly species. As an example in Ontario, Richard Knapton did a thesis on lek behaviour in Chryxus Arctic butterflies in Algonquin Park. His results were published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology in 19856. Another species that engages in lekking is reported to be the Black Swallowtail.

Notable Observations from Bath, Ontario7

Dave Edwards and John Hall

For us it was a rather lacklustre season with lower numbers of leps in general and fewer invaders from the south locally. Here are a few notes on some species observed this year.

Sandhurst Shores where we live is an old subdivision with fairly large lots. It is mostly lawn with only minor gardening but lots of mature trees. Outside the community there are extensive farm fields, a solar farm, and apple orchards. There is not a lot of good butterfly habitat visible but there are undoubtedly some fallow fields and woodlots scattered here and there. So we have been surprised by some of the butterfly species that have shown up in our yard since they have

5 Moss, S. 2007. The Birders Companion. Firefly Books. 208 pp. 6 Knapton, R.W. 1985. Lek structure and territoriality in the chryxus arctic butterfly, Oeneis chryxus (Satyridae). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 17(4): 389-395. 7 Editor’s note: this contribution to the summary is based on an email submitted to Ross Layberry and has been reporduced with minor edits with the author’s permission.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______probably traveled some distance to get to our place.

In 2011 we had five sightings of unidentified duskywings at Sandhurst Shores from July 19 on. We suspected that these were Wild Indigo Duskywings so in spring 2012 we planted some Baptisia in our garden. On July 4, 2012 a female duskywing showed up at the Baptisia. We knew there were extensive Crown Vetch plantings at the Lennox Generating Station a short distance from home so we went there the same day and found nine Wild Indigo Duskywings. Since then we have regularly observed Wild Indigos around our garden including some ovipositing on the Baptisia.

On May 28, 2015 we observed and photographed a Wild Indigo Duskywing hanging around the Baptisia (a few had been around since May 11). About 50 feet away we found a smaller duskywing fluttering about near a columbine plant on which it proceeded to oviposit. We did not expect this species to show up in our garden because we did not think that it wandered much from its usual breeding localities and as far as we know there is not much columbine in the area surrounding Sandhurst Shores. We only have maybe three columbine plants here and there in the garden.

Interestingly on July 26 and 28, 2015 we found a small duskywing which we thought was a Columbine flying around our back deck. On July 29 we observed a Columbine Duskywing ovipositing on columbine in the garden. We suspect this duskywing might have been the offspring of the first one seen on May 28. We don't know how often these two species have been observed in such close proximity but observers in many places are going to have to be cautious with their identifications.

On June 20, 2014 a Baltimore Checkerspot showed up in the yard, circled a few times and then proceeded to oviposit on some Turtlehead we had planted (pink, not the local variety). It was seen again the next day. This was a surprise because this species has not been recorded often in this county although it must have colonies somewhere. On July 13, 2014 we saw our first caterpillar followed by many more. They were last seen on August 17, 2014. We wondered if they could survive the winter here at our place. On April 28, 2015 we found a single caterpillar. On May 1, 2015 there were at least 32 on the Turtlehead. The last caterpillar we found was on May 30.

On June 2, 2015 we found a Baltimore Checkerspot chrysalis which began to emerge on June 5. Unfortunately one wing was not formed and stuck to the chrysalis. Later that day we found a healthy Baltimore Checkerspot flying around our yard. This individual was last observed on June 20, 2015. Sadly these were the only two adults that appear to have survived from the original group.

If you plant it they'll come we guess. No luck yet with our pipevine and spicebush.

In an informal survey we visited the Hunt Road/Ontario Hydro area west of Cloyne ten times this year. This did produce two new species for the county, Bog Fritillary and Tawny Crescent (it had produced Bog Copper in 2013 also a new species at that time). The road has been "improved" since we first visited in 2013. At that time it was a rutted dirt road with deep

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______puddles and totally covered with water in places. The improvements have removed some habitat but there is a lot of undisturbed habitat remaining. We walk the road and this year could cover a much greater distance than in 2013. We made no visits in 2014 because of the road construction. Still there were many fewer skippers observed this year in spite of the fact that the regular visits should have resulted in us hitting one of the peaks of these species.

On June 11 we observed 19 Bog Fritillaries. These were nectaring along the side of the road at various places for several kilometres. Interestingly on May 29 and June 26 we saw none although of course they could be scattered out in inaccessible areas in the bogs. It is quite possible to miss species entirely if you don't hit that right day.

We found Bog Coppers on three visits from July 8 to July 31 in good numbers and like the fritillaries, along several kilometres of road. Tawny Crescents were observed on three visits in small numbers from May 29 to June 26 in widely scattered localities.

Noteworthy Moth Records for Ontario 2015

Chris Schmidt (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa), Ross Layberry, Alan Macnaughton

A moth section was last included in this publication in 2006-07. It is now being revived, with this year’s report including observations by the following: DB -- David Beadle; BCS – Chris Schmidt; KS – Ken Stead; and JTT – Jim Troubridge.

The species numbers below refer to those used by the Moth Photographers’ Group, at http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/. Photographs and distribution maps of the species involved may be found by using the Latin Name Index at this website. Some of these species are not found in the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America, as they are very rare species.

Eriocraniidae 00003 Dyseriocrania griseocapitella - Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 9 May (1); Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 May (2) (DB)

Adelidae 00228 Adela ridingsella – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, June 23, very long antennae (KS)

Tineidae 00306 Mea skinnerella – Toronto (High Park), 22 July (2) (DB)

00319 Kearfottia albifasciella - Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 4 July (1); Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 July (1) (DB); Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, July 29 (KS)

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Gracillariideae 00637 Caloptilia serotinella - Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, September 18, possibly new Canadian record (KS)

00664 Callisto denticulella - Toronto (Dupont & Bathurst), 26 May (1) (DB)

Oecophoridae 01026 Rectiostoma xanthobasis –Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, July 1, July 12, new for Canada (KS)

01031 Menesta melanella – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, June 8, new for Canada - very unusual species (KS)

01053 Fabiola edithella - Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, August 2, possibly new Canadian record (KS)

01070.1 Stathmopoda aenea - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 20 July (1) (DB)

Gelechiidae 02211 Polyhymno luteostrigella – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, September 9, possibly new Canadian record (KS)

02255 Holophysis emblemella - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 July (1) (DB)

Cossidae 02700 Zeuzera pyrina - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 July (1) (DB)

Tortricidae 02713 Paralobesia monotropana – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, June 24, feeds on Indian Pipe and new for Canada. Determined by genitalia. (KS)

02805 Olethreutes corylana - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 30 May (3) (DB)

03004.1 Phaneta ambodaidaleia, Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, March 20 (KS)

03384 Ancylis mediofasciana, Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, May 18 (KS)

03425 Sereda tautana - Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 9 May (1) (DB)

03434 Grapholita fana (T) - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 May (1) (DB)

03500 Pseudogalleria inimicella - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 30 May (1) (DB)

03650 Archips rosana - Toronto (Dupont & Bathurst), 1 July (1) (DB)

Crambidae 04954 Anania quebecensis - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 11 July (1) (DB)

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

05392 Arequipa turbatella – Caledon Lake (Peel County), 18 July (1) (DB)

05018 Pyrausta demantrialis - Arthur Langford Reserve (Norfolk County), 1 August (1) (DB)

05298.1 Sclerocona acutella - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 26 June (1) (DB)

Pyralidae 05530 Hypsopygia binodulalis - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 27 July (1), 22 August (3) (DB)

05556 Tosale oviplagalis - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 11 July (5) (DB)

05781 Ortholepis myricella - Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 4 July (2) (DB)

Geometridae 06594 Cleora sublunaria - Leeds Grenville Co., White Acres Rd., 4 May (BCS)

06693 Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Prince Edward Co., Roblin Mills, 15 Sep (BCS)

06818 Selenia dentaria - Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 9 May (3) (DB)

06909 Nepytia pellucidaria – Hastings Co., Madoc 14 Sep (BCS)

Sphingidae 07884 Darapsa versicolor – Long Point (Hastings Drive – Norfolk County), 16 July (4) (DB)

Erebidae 08109 Haploa reversa – Lambton Co., Pt. Franks, 4 August (JTT)

08204 Halysidota harrisii - Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 4 June, first confirmed Canadian record (JTT)

08401 Redectis vitrea - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 20 July (1) (DB)

08418 Parascotia fuliginaria - Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 26 July (1) (DB)

08456 Anomis flava – Wellington Co., Elora, 8 September (JTT)

08534 Plusiodonta compressipalpis - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 July (1) (DB)

08796 Catocala nebulosa – Haldimand Co., Cayuga, 8 Aug (JTT), Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, August 17, October 14 (KS)

08877 Catocala connubialis, Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, August 11, 1st specimen in CNC from Canada (KS)

Euteliidae 08959.1 Paectes abrostolella – Hastings Co., Madoc 4 Jun; Lanark Co., Christie Lake, 30 May 2013 (BCS)

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Notodontidae 07974 Misogada unicolor – Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 23 August, first Canadian record in over 30 years (JTT)

08022 Hyparpax aurora - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 30 May (1) (DB)

Noctuidae

08914 Autographa californica - Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, September 27, October 6, new Canadian record, deposited at CNC (KS)

09199 Acronicta rubricoma, Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, June 9, July 6, July 14 (KS)

09211 Acronicta tritona, Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, August 18 (KS)

09266 Acronicta lithospila – Thickson’s Woods (Durham County), 20 July (1) (DB)

09391 Resapamea passer – Consecon (Prince Edward County), 13 June, 1 August (1) (DB)

09393 Resapamea stipata – Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 23 August (JTT); Arthur Langford Reserve (Norfolk County), 1 August (1) (DB)

09436 Photedes panatela – Consecon (Prince Edward County), 13 June (2) (DB)

09497 Papaipema necopina – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, September 16, 17, 19, 26, feeds on sunflower and had not been seen recently, identified by DNA (KS)

09618 Phosphila turbulenta - Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 17 July (1) (DB)

09629 Fagitana littera – Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 4 July (1) (DB)

09630 Callopistra floridensis – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, September 26, appears to be a late season migrant (KS)

09766 Cirrhophanus triangulifera – Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 23 August (JTT)

09893.1 Lithophane lanei – Ottawa Dist., Carp Hills, 6 October (BCS)

09895 Lithophane signosa - Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 22 October (JTT)

09904 Lithophane querquera – Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 21 October, new for Canada (JTT)

09904.1 Lithophane scottae - Lanark Co., Christie Lake, 6 November (BCS)

09922 Lithophane pexata – Toronto (Dupont & Christie), 29 April (1) (DB)

09945.2 Metaxaglaea violacea - Norfolk Co., Wilson Tract, 22 October (JTT) (new for CAN)

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Number not yet assigned, likely 9949.1 Chaetaglaea rhonda – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, new species (Stead & Troubridge) named in ZooKeys in January 2016. Likely feeding on Sand Cherry. Initially identified as C. tremula but DNA barcoding showed a difference; also genitalia and colouring differences (KS)

10434 Dargida rubripennis – Wilson Tract (Norfolk County), 16 July (1) (DB)

10517 Egira alternans - Portage Lake (Parry Sound District), 9 May (1) (DB)

10812 Euxoa bostoniensis - Prince Edward Co., Roblin Mills, 15 September (BCS)

10870 Dichagyris acclivis – Norfolk Co., Rowan Mills, 7 August (JTT)

11065 Pyrrhia aurantiago – Lambton Co., Pinery PP area, August 7, August 12, feeds on False Foxglove common in open areas at north end of Pinery, but the moth is elusive (KS)

11177 Schinia nundina – Prince Edward Co., Ostrander Point, 16 September; larvae on Solidago (BCS)

NEW COUNTY RECORDS FOR 2015

COUNTY SPECIES Algoma Olympia Marble, Red-Spotted Purple, Chryxus Arctic Cochrane Summer Azure Dufferin Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Admiral Elgin Ocola Skipper Frontenac Bog Fritillary, Tawny Crescent Grey Two-spotted Skipper, Tawny Crescent Hastings Wild Indigo Duskywing, Tawny Crescent Kent Ocola Skipper Lanark Hickory Hairstreak Lennox & Addington Bog Fritillary, Tawny Crescent Carleton Little Glassywing, Ocola Skipper Oxford Painted Lady Peel Cherry Gall Azure, Baltimore Checkerspot Russell Hickory Hairstreak Simcoe West Virginia White Stormont Little Glassywing, Coral Hairstreak Sudbury Arctic Fritillary, Pearl Crescent, Appalachian Brown Timiskaming Eyed Brown Victoria Little Glassywing Waterloo Ocola Skipper

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

SUMMARY OF ONTARIO BUTTERFLIES AND SKIPPERS IN 2015

Compiled by Ross A. Layberry

Introduction The following is a summary of the butterflies and skippers reported in Ontario in 2015. For each species, the total number of records submitted is indicated, followed by at least the earliest and latest records (that were submitted), as well as other noteworthy records to include: a) new information on range and new occurrence localities; b) data, when submitted, on flight periods, broods and population monitoring; c) life history data that is not well known or seldom reported including foodplants, nectar sources, larval description and habits, ovipositing data and behaviour, pupal description and siting, adult habits, predation, etc.; and d) records of rare or seldom reported species.

Counties, Districts and Regional Municipalities (as listed on page 9 for the purposes of TEA publications) in the text are truncated and printed in italics (e.g. Regional Municipality of Waterloo appears as Waterloo).

The full sets of over 27,000 records (comprising 129 species) submitted for 2015 are available to TEA members as a PDF file – contact Ross Layberry at [email protected] to receive a copy. Records within these tables are sorted taxonomically by species, then by county (alphabetically), and then by date. The PDF file (Portable Document Format) can be opened using Adobe Acrobat Reader, which comes pre-installed on most computers, and is also available as a free download at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/. The table can be searched in a limited way using the Find function in Acrobat Reader. An additional PDF file including the key to observer’s initials will also be included.

Each record within the tables includes county, locality, date, observers, numbers seen, and any special notes. Other valuable data that could not be included in the tables due to space limitations, such as georeferencing (UTM and Lat/Long), is retained in the TEA’s Ontario Butterfly Atlas Database, which is housed at and maintained by the Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough. Further inquiries or requests for information can be directed to the compiler.

Both the species accounts and the butterfly checklist are organized in accordance with Pelham (2008). The English common names largely follow Layberry et al. (1998).

Data has been carefully checked by the compilers and every effort has been made to verify records for provincially rare and unusual species, as well as species in some particularly difficult groups. However, the majority of records are unverified reports and occasional identification errors may remain. Any corrections brought to the compiler’s attention will be published in future issues of Ontario Lepidoptera.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

The 2015 Season

Climate Conditions8

Spring began with both normal temperatures and normal precipitation amounts prevailing across the province, although in April mean temperatures were warmer than normal while portions of northwestern Ontario were slightly cooler. In May, southern Ontario was warm and dry while northern Ontario was wet. Although temperatures were above normal in southern Ontario, many locations experienced late frost on May 23. In June, southern Ontario’s voluminous precipitation washed away any concerns about drought conditions that had prevailed since the winter. Several southern Ontario locations recorded impressive precipitation amounts, receiving as much as 2.6 times the quantities expected in June and some setting records (eg. Windsor). Northern Ontario, however, was a different story. In contrast to the wet spring conditions that had been observed, the month of June was generally quite dry. This was particularly noticeable in parts of northwestern Ontario and the far north. Temperatures ranged from normal to slightly above normal in most of northern Ontario, while they were slightly below normal in southern Ontario and the northeast.

As summer proceeded into July, conditions became dry. Most of the province experienced drier- than-normal conditions with some locations receiving as little as 25% of the expected amount of rain. In contrast, the northwest and far north – where dry conditions were experienced in June – were significantly wetter than normal in July. Rainfall amounts exceeded twice the expected amount in some locations. Mean temperatures in July were within the normal range across the province. Most of Ontario also experienced normal temperatures in August. However, eastern Ontario, northeastern Ontario, and the far northeast reported mean temperatures that were above normal. Precipitation amounts were highly variable due to the convective nature of precipitation received during the summer. The most severe and frequent weather events were experienced in the month of August.

For most of the province, the mean temperatures in September were higher than those of June 2015, giving Ontarians a month-long extension of the summer! Temperatures in September were record- breaking in warmth, with mean temperatures exceeding normal values by up to 5°C. The station at Ottawa’s Experimental Farm reported its warmest September since observations began at that location in 1890. In terms of precipitation, most of the province experienced drier conditions than normal. By October both temperatures and precipitation were back within normal range for most of the province.

Notes on the Season The first record of an overwintering species, a Compton Tortoiseshell, was on March 6! Eastern Comma, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, and Mourning Cloak also made appearances later in the month of March (the 20th, 20th, and 30th respectively) and continued to be reported through April and the rest of the season.

Overall it was not a memorable year for migrants, and perhaps one of the worst year for migrants in

8 Weather conditions are summarized from monthly weather reports written by Geoff Coulson, Meterologist at Environment Canada.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______the last decade. The first reports of common spring migrants, Red Admiral, American and Painted Ladies were between April 12th and 15th, however there were no large waves of migration. Monarch numbers were slightly down with 1,329 records compared to 1,657 in 2014. Conditions for breeding over the summer and for fall migration were favourable which resulted in a substantial increase in colony size at the overwintering grounds in Mexico. At the time this summary was going to press there were reports of a winter storm in the overwintering reserves in Michocán. The impact to the overwintering colonies remains to be seen.

As in 2015 the ten most commonly reported species were Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, and Monarch, followed by Red Admiral, Northern Crescent, Eastern Comma, Common Ringlet, European Skipper, Northern Mourning Cloak, and White Admiral. This is very similar to species reports in 2014 with the exception of Summer Azure making the top 10 list while Eastern Comma did not. In fact the Viceroy, Great Spangled Fritillary, Common Wood Nymph, and Little Wood Satyr were all reported more frequently than Eastern Comma in 2014. The list of species reported in 2014 and 2015 was exactly the same and the total number of reports was similar, with just over 26,000 records in 2014 and just under 28,000 in 2015. In addition to Eastern Comma being reported more (+347 records), there were notable increases in the number of records of Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (+206) and Summer Spring Azure (+327) between 2014 and 2015, while the number of Hobomok Skipper, Eastern Tailed Blue, and American Lady records decreased by more than 120 reports.

There were also new records in 20 counties representing 22 species. This includes the notable appearance of Ocola Skipper, a rare migrant, in 4 new counties: Elgin, Kent, Carelton and Waterloo. The West Virgina White, a Species at Risk (Rank: Special Concern) was also observed in two new counties: Hastings and Simcoe. Two new county records represent range extensions in the Ontario Atlas: including Olympia Marble in Algoma County and Summer Azure in Cochrane.

ABREVIATIONS USED IN THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS

PP = Provincial Park NP = National Park CA = Conservation Area NR = Nature Reserve Twp. = Township Con. = Concession ANSI = Area of Natural and Scientific Interest rare = the rare Charitable Research Reserve on Blair Road, Cambridge

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Family: HESPERIIDAE

Epargyreus clarus SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER

In 2015 - 344 records, starting with one seen on May 14 at Twyn Rivers Road, Rouge Park, Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (BH) and one on May 16 near Tweed, Hastings (JBar). Further north, the first records were almost as early, on May 24 on the K & P Trail, near Flower Station, Lanark and near Barrett Chute, Renfrew (DaE, JoH). There were nine reports from Ottawa, including four from Macoun Marsh, in the eastern part of the City where they were common in July (MiLe). There were five reports from Renfrew, including two from Bonnechere PP: on June 29 one was seen flying around a campsite and landing several times in the cold ashes of a firepit (JIn) and on July 3 one was photographed along the road (MiLe). These were the northernmost records in the east. But in Rainy River it was reported on June 4, 5 and 6 at the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historic site near Stratton (DHE). There were nine records of larvae between August 5 and September 20, all from near Tweed, Hastings (JBar), all either eating leaves of Hog Peanut, or in leaf nests stitched together in leaves of Flowering Raspberry. Numbers were usually low but there were a few reports of more than ten, the highest a count of 55 on July 12 on the Oshawa Butterfly Count, in an abandoned gravel pit on the west side of Lakeridge Road, north of Houston Road, Durham (JoF, MPr). The latest two reports were in October, with 15 photographed on the 11th and another three on the 20th at Harrow, Essex (JL).

Urbanus proteus LONG-TAILED SKIPPER

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2012 at Princess Point, Hamilton, Hamilton-Wentworth and High Park Toronto, Metro-Toronto.

Achalurus lyciades HOARY EDGE

In 2015 - No records, last reported in 2011at Spring Garden Prairie, Windsor, Essex.

Thorybes bathyllus SOUTHERN CLOUDYWING

In 2015 – No reports, last reported at the Acorus Restoration Site at Walsingham, Norfolk, and at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex last year.

Thorybes pylades NORTHERN CLOUDYWING

In 2015 - 188 records. The earliest reports were on May 20, three photographed at the Odessa Alvar, Lennox & Addington (BER), and three on May 24, at Atikokan, Rainy River (DHE) and at a sandy area near the Mer Bleue, Ottawa (RCa, DRy). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, but one from a little further north in Nipissing, the most northerly record in the east: one seen on July 3 on Klock Road at the Ottawa River (RAL). There were ten reports from the north: one from Sudbury, one photographed on June 23 at Lively (CBl); one from Thunder Bay, one seen on June 12 on Alice Avenue (NGE); six from Rainy River including one at Devlin on June 25 (MSD); and two from Kenora, one photographed on June 15 at the north end of Dinorwic Lake (ERi) and one seen on June 21 in the Ear Falls area (AlH); this is the northernmost of all records. Most counts were low but there

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______were 17 of ten or more. The highest were all from Metro-Toronto in June (RJY): 66 at Eglinton Flats on the 16th, and counts of 53, 63, 286 and 586 at High Park, the highest on June 18; “Lush conditions in Park this year due to rains”. There were no reports of larvae, and just a few of nectaring. But RT, at Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville, photographed it on Blackberry, Cow Vetch, Indian Hemp, Dogbane, Red Clover and White Clover. The latest records were of four photographed on July 23 at Northpark, Oakville, Halton (BVR), and very worn individuals at the Menzel Centennial Nature Reserve, Lennox & Addington, two seen on July 27 and one photographed on August 5 (DaE, JoH).

Staphyllus hayhurstii HAYHURST’S SCALLOPWING

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 1992 at Fish Point, Pelee Island, Essex.

Erynnis icelus DREAMY DUSKYWING

In 2015 - 151 records. The first reports were on May 6: one photographed at the Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin, Ottawa (PH) and another in the Sandy Lake area, Peterborough (RJY, KRY, AIr). There were five reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, all singles except a report of two seen on June 13 on Barron Canyon Road (BER). There were 34 reports from the north, including 14 from Algoma, highest count five, on May 18 on Red Maple Road, St. Joseph’s Island (MOli); four reports from Kenora, including six seen on June 24 at Richan (AlH); 13 from Rainy River, including on June 9 at Devlin (MSD) and at Nym Lake Bog, Atikokan (DHE); two from Sudbury, singles seen on June 2 and 9 at Crean Hill Road, N of Denlou (JK); and a single record from Thunder Bay, eight seen on June 17 in the Geraldton area (AlH). Numbers were very low with only two reports of more than ten, 11 seen on June 22 and 19 seen on June 9 at Cambell St., Inverhuron, Bruce (LMN). There were no reports of larvae, and just one of nectaring, one photographed nectaring on Dandelion on June 1 at Atikokan Municipal Airport, Rainy River (MSD, DHE). The latest reports were of one seen on June 28 near Pinery PP, Lambton (BKu) and one photographed on a Sault Naturalists outing at Wallwork Nature Reserve on St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma (MOli).

Erynnis brizo SLEEPY DUSKWING

In 2015 - one record, three photographed on May 18 at the Wilson Tract, Norfolk (RJY, KRY).

Erynnis juvenalis JUVENAL’S DUSKYWING

In 2015 - 230 records, starting very early with one seen on April 24 at the Brookbanks Ravine, Metro-Toronto (BrP), then nothing until early May, with one seen on May 3 on Elmbrook Road, Prince Edward (JD) and two on May 7 on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, LBe). There were ten reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, between May 28 and June 20; the highest count was on the earliest date, nine seen on the Mizzy Lake Trail (JaRi). There were 14 reports from Algoma between May 23 and July 7, with the highest count of five on June 15 on Carpenter Lake Road (MOli). And there was just one report from Sudbury, one seen on June 9 on Tilton Lake Road, 7 km south of Sudbury (JK). There were very few reports from the southwest, just two from Essex at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, one seen on May 10 (IW) and 13 seen, some photographed on May 17 (RJY, KRY). There were no reports from Kent or Elgin, and just six from Lambton, highest count

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

40 on May 24 at Pinery PP (BAM). There were no reports of larvae, and four of nectaring: on Staghorn Sumac at High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY), on White Sweet Clover at Sassafras Woods, Halton (BVR), and on Blackberry and Lilac at Tweed, Hastings (JBar). Highest counts were the 40 mentioned above, another count of 40 on June 3 at the Mannister field in the St. Williams Forest, Norfolk (MVB) and an estimate of about 90 on May 18 at the Wilson Tract, Norfolk (RJY, KRY). The flight season was almost finished by mid-June but there were a few later ones in June, four in July, and one in August. The latest two were specimens photographed by BVR, on July 23rd at Northpark, Oakville, Halton and on August 1 on Norfolk Ave., Old Galt, Waterloo (BVR).

Erynnis horatius HORACE’S DUSKYWING

In 2015 - two records, both at Point Pelee NP, Essex. A very fresh female was photographed on May 16 at West Beach (RJY, KRY) and a male was photographed on September 5 in an open weedy area at the edge of woods on the Cactus Trail (BAM).

Erynnis martialis MOTTLED DUSKYWING

In 2015 - 23 records, starting with four from Hastings: on May 24 one was photographed (TB, BPr) and on the 28th thirteen were observed (JB, KeMo. On May 29 seven fairly fresh ones were photographed (RJY, KRY, DaBo), and seven, presumably different ones, were observed (JB, PCar). The next reports were from Lambton, one seen on June 3 (BKu), and from Hastings, one seen on June 4 (CS). Also in Hastings on June 4, systematic counts were conducted which produced up to 30 individuals at one site (JL). On June 11 BVR made the first of fourteen, mostly photographed, observations in Halton. Her observations of the first generation ended on June 24. The highest count in Halton during this time was fifteen, on June 16. During this saat least 30 individuals counted in Northumberland (JL) and one last record from Hastings, one photographed on June 22 (LBe, JB). The latest record was one photographed on July 22 in Halton; this was not a worn individual, so it must have been a second-generation specimen, the first confirmed record of the second generation in Ontario (BVR).

Editor’s note: The Mottled Duskywing is designated as Endangered in Ontario and is considered a data sensitive species by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. As such, detailed information on locations has been omitted from this summary and only counties are provided.

Erynnis zarucco ZARUCCO DUSKYWING

In 2015 - No records, only one old record, one collected in 1935 at Rouge River, Toronto, Metro- Toronto, now in the Canadian National Collection.

Erynnis funeralis FUNEREAL DUSKYWING

In 2015 - three records, all late season migrants. On September 10 BH reported one in his garden on Chestermere Blvd., Metro-Toronto, an immaculate specimen on Brazilian Verbena, Verbena bonariensis. On September 20 one was seen in Point Pelee NP, Essex, near the tip (EAS, STP). And on October 1 one was seen at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island, Metro-Toronto, a fairly fresh specimen nectaring on Red Clover along the airport fence at 2 pm (MLi).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Erynnis lucilius COLUMBINE DUSKYWING

In 2015 - 162 records. The earliest reports were of one photographed on May 3 on MacGillivray Road, Frontenac (BER) and two photographed on May 6 in the Sandy Lake area, Peterborough (RJY, KRY, AIr). There was just one record from the southwest, one seen on May 24 at Side Road, St. Williams, Norfolk (ErG). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and only two from the north: two seen on June 7 on Hwy 667, 3 km E of Wakami Lake PP, Sudbury (PAB, RaL) and one photographed on June 12 on Carpenter Lake Road, Algoma (MOli). The first generation flew until about mid-June. The second started in early July, with a report of four fresh ones seen on July 4 on Wylie and Alvar Roads, in the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (RJY, KRY), and there were records in the next two days from Hastings, Frontenac and Peterborough. There were just three reports of nectaring, and three of oviposition, on Columbine on May 28 and July 29 at Sandhurst Shores, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and on July 19, on the underside of the leaf of a Columbine cultivar, in a flower garden at Tweed, Hastings (JBar); four eggs were found and photographed, and at least one hatched. Most reports were of low numbers, but in the first generation 20 were seen and some photographed on May 28 on Con. 12 in Burntlands PP, Lanark (RCa) and in the second generation 51 were counted on July 18 in Petroglyphs PP, Peterborough, during the Petroglyphs Butterfly Count (TB, ABi, RD). The latest records were four seen and photographed on August 22 at the Sheffield CA, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and singles seen on August 23 and September 10 on the TransCanada trail east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar).

Erynnis baptisiae WILD INDIGO DUSKYWING

In 2015 - 287 records, starting on May 7 with four photographed at Eglinton Flats, Metro-Toronto (RJY) and May 9, with three seen in Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (BH) and six photographed at rare, Waterloo (JuRe). There were six reports from four locations in Ottawa, by far the most northerly records; highest count there was five, on August 5 at the end of Parkhaven St. (PH). On August 2 JBar observed and photographed six males and six females, including two ovipositing on Crown Vetch, in a meadow bordered by tall grasses and wild flowers, at the edge of the soccer field at Tweed, Hastings, the first record for Hastings. The next day at the same place he saw and photographed two more females, and found at least 10 eggs. He had a total of twelve records, in four locations around Tweed, the latest on September 20. There must have been at least three generations, probably four. There were 5 reports of ovipositing on Crown Vetch and nine of ovipositing on or at least associating with Baptisia. RJY reported oviposition on September 10 on Blue False Indigo, an ornamental at James Gardens, Metro-Toronto, and on May 26 on Blue Lupine at High Park, Metro- Toronto. There were many high counts, in every month from May to September, the highest 62 on June 3 and 96 on May 23, both at Eglinton Flats, Metro-Toronto (RJY); the highest in September was 23 on the 17th at Dumfries CA, Waterloo (JuRe). The season ended with seven records in October, four of them from Cambridge. The latest records were on October 11: three were photographed at Rainbow Creek, Woodbridge, York (CCr); a very worn specimen was seen at James Gardens, (AA); and three were photographed at Riverside Park, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe).

Erynnis persius persius EASTERN PERSIUS DUSKYWING

In 2015 - no reports. Extirpated in Ontario. Last reported on May 30, 1985, at Backus Woods and at the St. Williams Forest Nursery, Norfolk.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Erynnis persius borealis BOREAL PERSIUS DUSKYWING

In 2015 - No records. Last reported from the far northwestern part of Kenora, last year.

Pyrgus centaureae GRIZZLED SKIPPER

In 2015 - No records. Last reported from near Matachewan, Timiskaming, last year.

Pyrgus communis COMMON CHECKERED SKIPPER

In 2015 - 30 records. The earliest was one photographed on May 23 at Leamington, Essex “after 5 PM I observed at close range a male that was so fresh as to be too soft for flight. It chose to sun and dry its wings on a Dandelion” (GRT). He also saw eight on May 25 “all immaculately fresh and randy” and two on June 2, also extremely fresh, behind the Superstore in Leamington. These had obviously overwintered and so are not migrants; we definitely need to readjust our thinking on this species”. The next two records, the first incoming migrants, were on July 12 and 27 at Canatara Park, Sarnia, Lambton (ShNe) and all other records were in this area or along the shore of Lake Erie, just where you would expect migrants. There were no reports of immatures or ovipositing, and just one of nectaring, on September 17 on White Clover in Kingsville, Essex (RJY, KRY). Numbers were low; the highest was ten photographed on October 11 at Harrow, Essex (JL). The latest records were both singles, photographed on October 30 near Leamington (GRT) and on November 5 at West Windsor, Essex (DwM).

Pholisora catullus COMMON SOOTYWING

In 2015 - 25 records, starting with seven seen on May 18, two worn and five extremely fresh, around a giant mudpuddle among demolished homes in Leamington, Essex (GRT), the highest count of the first generation. Next was one seen on May 20 at McCowan Park, Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (BH) “immaculate, now uncommon to rare in area”. Between May 26 and June 20 there were six reports from South Field/Sparrow field at rare, Waterloo, highest count seven on June 20 (TSk). The second generation started on July 14, when one was photographed at Goshen, Huron (PDe) followed by one seen on July 18 at Windsor, Essex (SGr). On July 20 JK reported ten in a dry meadow and thicket at Gilholm Marsh, on Cedar Creek Road, west of Cambridge, Waterloo, the highest count. The latest reports were on August 9, one seen near Wardsville, Middlesex (DPy), and on August 23, when one was seen on Con. 5, and another on Con. 6, near Cultus, Norfolk (KaB, AaA).

Carterocephalus palaemon ARCTIC SKIPPER

In 2015 - 150 records. The first reports were singles photographed on May 23 and 24 south of Burritts Rapids, Leeds-Grenville (BeLa), followed by four records from four different counties on May 26. There were five reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing between June 13 and June 20, highest count ten, on June 13 on Cameron Lake Road (LF). There were forty reports from the north: 15 from Algoma between June 5 to June 24, highest count nine on June 11 on a Sault College woodlot, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli); four from Kenora, including two on June 11 at Rushing River PP, one photographed on the Granite Bluff Trail and three on the Beaver Pond Trail (TRa); 19 from

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Rainy River, including 14 from Devlin between May 26 and June 21 (MSD); and two from Thunder Bay, including four caught and released in a semi-open forest and spruce bog on Caribou Island, in Lake Superior east of the City of Thunder Bay (SBr). Unusually, there were four reports of nectaring, on June 7 on purple vetch on Scenic Road near Wilno, Renfrew (EA), on June 20 on Hawkweed on the Trans-Canada Trail at Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ), and on June 11 on Cow Vetch north of Wilno, and at the roadside near Wilno Bog (RAL, RCL). There were a few good counts, nine reports of ten or more. On June 3, 34 were seen, some photographed, at the Almonte Wetland, Lanark (DA, KA). And the highest count was on June 6, when at least 35 were counted in a surprising location in the northern suburbs of Aurora, Durham “nowhere in Ontario have I ever seen more than a few individuals of the Arctic Skipper at a single location” (AW). The latest date in the north was June 26, one seen on Alice Avenue, Thunder Bay (NGE). But there were two later reports in the south: one seen on June 27 at Timm Drive and Haanel, Bells Corners, Ottawa (MOl) and one on July 16 in the orchard on Morninglory Farm, Renfrew (EA).

Lerema accius CLOUDED SKIPPER

In 2015 - no records, only one previous report, in 2000 at Point Pelee NP, Essex.

Ancyloxypha numitor LEAST SKIPPER

In 2015 – 333 records, starting with one seen on May 14 at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (MaP). There was one other record in May, two seen on the south side of Hwy 97 at Valens CA, Hamilton-Wentworth (BVR), and then records started in earnest in the first week of June. There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on July 6 at Found Lake (RMa), and six from the North. It was reported on four dates from July 3 to August 4 on McNabb Ave. east of Black Road, Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma (MOli); on July 30 at Devlin, Rainy River (MSD) and on July 11 at Killarney Outfitters in Killarney, Sudbury, as part of the Killarney PP count (FGi). There were two generations, and there must have been some overlap between them; there was no gap in the records when looking at the province as a whole. But at Sandhurst Shores, Lennox & Addington, DaE and JoH had 35 records between June 3 and August 30. And there one could see a gap between the generations, from June 23 to August 2, with just one stray record in early July. There were no reports on courtship nor ovipositing, and only four of nectaring: on Cow Vetch at Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ), on a daisy and Birds-foot Trefoil at Ottawa (RT) and on Birds-foot Trefoil at Devlin (MSD). There were 14 counts of ten or more, evenly divided between first and second generation. The highest were 25 seen on August 19 on the Petrie Island Causeway, Ottawa (PMC, BK), 25 on August 25 at the James N. Allan PP, Haldemand (RCa) and about 80 on June 20 at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY). The latest records were on September 23, two seen at the NW corner of Broadway and the Ojibway Parkway at Windsor, Essex (JK, JuEi), and one photographed on September 27 near the TransCanada Trail, east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar).

Oarisma garita GARITA SKIPPERLING

In 2015 - no records, last seen at La Cloche Island and Peninsula, Manitoulin in 1997. But on June 30 RAL checked the sites of four old records, plus 10 km of roadside habitat between them, and found nothing. Possibly too early: old records range from June 25 to July 13.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Little Glassywing, Perth Wildlife Pepper and Salt Skipper, Backus Horace's Duskywing, Point Pelee NP, Reserve, Lanark, June 27, 2015 (Photo: Woods, Norfolk, May 28, 2015 (Photo: Essex, May 16, 2015 (Photo: Bob Yukich) Diane Lepage) Jay Cossey)

Orange Sulphur, Cranberry Lake Road, Mustard White, Wolfe Lake, Leeds- Dorcas Copper, Brucedale, Bruce, July Kawartha Lakes, July 12, 2015 (Photo: Grenville, May 9, 2015 (Photo: Ralph 23, 2015 (Photo: Rick Cavasin) David Kaposi) Thorpe)

Tawny Crescent, Timm Drive, Ottawa, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, High Park, Bog Fritillary, Hungry Lake Barrens, June 2, 2015 (Photo: Rick Cavasin) Toronto, August 2, 2015 (Photo: Bob Frontenac, June 6, 2015 (Photo: Rick Yukich) Cavasin)

43 West Virginia White, Crawford Lake, Bog Copper, Long Swamp, Manion Halton, May 6, 2015 (Photo: Brenda Van Painted Lady, Point Pelee NP, Essex, Corners, Ottawa, July 5, 2015 (Photo: Ryswyk) September 16, 2015 (Photo: Bob Yukich) Jakob Mueller) Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Ocola Skipper, Experimental Farm, Gray Hairstreak, Hungry Lake Barrens, Hoary Elfin, Constance Bay, Ottawa, Ottawa, September 14, 2015 (Photo: Frontenac, July 21, 2015 (Photo: Rick May 3, 2015 (Photo: Rick Cavasin) Arnet Sheppard) Cavasin)

Northern Pearly-Eye, Bells Corners, Mottled Duskywing, Undisclosed Arctic Skipper, Valens, Hamilton, May Ottawa, June 25, 2015 (Photo: Ralph Location, Hastings, June 4, 2015 (Photo: 27, 2015 (Photo: Brenda Van Ryswyk) Thorpe) Jessica Linton)

Left: Aphrodite Fritiallary and Northern Crescent, Cranberry Lake Road, Kawartha Lakes, August 9, 2015 (Photo: David Kaposi)

Below: Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, Prairie Smoke Reserve Trail, Kawartha Lakes June 6, 2015 (Photo: David Kaposi)

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Thymelicus lineola EUROPEAN SKIPPER

In 2015 - 757 records. The first report was very early, one seen at South Field\Sparrow Field at rare, Waterloo (TSk). The next reports were in early June: one seen on the 5th at the Acton Rock Barren, Halton (PDe), and on the 6th one seen on a hydroline at Castleton, Northumberland (RP) and two photographed at the Dumfries CA, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). There were nine reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, between June 29 and July 18, and another 12 from further north in Nipissing. There were 167 records from the north, 91 of them from Algoma between June 19 and August 7, almost all by MOli. The highest count there was at least a thousand, probably many thousands, on July 1 in a large flower-filled field beside the Goulais River Bridge, skippers as far as the eye could see (RAL). There were 51 records from Rainy River between June 25 and August 4 (MSD, DHE); highest count 96, on July 5 at Devlin (MSD). There were 11 reports from Sudbury, June 25 to July 7, most from Killarney PP (FGi). There were ten reports from Thunder Bay, July 2 to August 5, highest count 60, on July 9 at Kenwell (AlH). And finally there were two reports from Timiskaming, on July 9 about ten seen at Latchford and another ten at the New Liskeard Sewage Lagoons (LBe). There were twenty reports of nectaring, on all the usual plants, and also on Viper’s Bugloss (RT), Selfheal (MSD) and Spreading Dogbane (RAL). There was one report of a larva, one caught and released on May 3 on a bicycle trail in Listowel, Perth (GR). There were high counts everywhere, with 45 counts of a hundred or more. There was an estimate of 2,000 on June 22 on the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (BrP) and an actual count was 2,910 on June 29 on Charlie Allen Road, Peterborough (TB, JB), and there were two reports of 1000+ and three which just said “many”. The season finished with ten reports in August. The latest were both on August 20: one seen on Norfolk Ave., Old Galt, Waterloo (BVR), and two seen at Edwards Gardens, Metro-Toronto (GrS).

Hylephila phyleus FIERY SKIPPER

In 2015 - three records, all late-season migrants. The first was a fresh male seen on September 15 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP, Essex (RJY, KRY). On September 21 one was seen at Monarch Landing, 1 mile east of Port Burwell, Elgin (AaA). And on October 11 two males, fairly fresh, were photographed at West Beach, Point Pelee NP (RJY, KRY).

Hesperia comma laurentina COMMON BRANDED SKIPPER

In 2015 - 26 records. There were only two records from the south, from Algonquin PP, Nipissing: one seen on August 19 at the Visitor Centre (RMa) and an estimate of nine to eleven seen and photographed on August 22 at the Old Airfield (RHC, GlCu). All the rest were from the north, the earliest ones, by far, from Algoma: one photographed on June 26 on Carpenter Lake Road, McMahon Twp, and two others photographed on July 14 and August 4 within the City of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). In Thunder Bay, one was photographed on August 5 at the Mission Marsh Wildlife Area (RoJo), one was seen on August 8 on Alice Avenue, Thunder Bay (NGE); one was seen on August 21 at Strathcona, and one on August 27 on the Black Sturgeon River at Camp 43 Dam (AlH). Two were seen on August 8 at Atikokan, Rainy River (DHE). The rest were at an MNR camp at Northbluff Point, Cochrane: five reports from August 16 to August 27 (RWo, SSu) and eleven from August 29 to September 10 (JaCH, ArM); highest count six, on August 23 and 27.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Hesperia leonardus LEONARD’S SKIPPER

In 2015 - 53 records. The earliest report was on August 5, one photographed on County Road 25 and Sideroad 20, Grey (LMN) followed by three reports on August 6: a male photographed near Meatbird Beach, Lively, Sudbury (CBl); one photographed at Wasaga Beach PP, Simcoe, part of the Wasaga Beach PP Bioblitz (CR); and three photographed in a sandy area at the Mer Bleue, Ottawa (RCa). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on August 19 at the Visitor Centre (RMa) and three on August 22 at the Old Airfield (RHC, GlCu). There was another report from Sudbury, on August 19 at Kelly Lake, and two from Algoma: these were both singles, photographed on A Line Road on St. Joseph Island, on August 27 between Con. 4 and Fort Road, and on August 30 north of Con. 4 (MOli). Nectaring was reported on goldenrod, New England Aster and Heath Aster at Tweed, Hastings (JBar), New England Aster in Peterborough (JB) and at Woodland Sunflower outside the Visitor Centre at Killbear PP, Parry Sound (PM). On August 10, JBar saw a male puddling on wet sand on the north shore of Stoco Lake, Hastings, and on August 17 another fresh one puddling on mud on a flooded trail, west of Tweed. The highest counts were 20 on September 1 on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (JCa, VCa) and 27 on August 31 on an Ontario Hydro road SW of Cloyne Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). The latest reports were of three seen on September 16 on Charlie Allen Road, Peterborough (JB), and one caught, studied, photographed and released on September 20 on the Transcanada Trail west of Tweed (JBar).

Hesperia sassacus INDIAN SKIPPER

In 2015 - 81 records. The flight season started very abruptly, with two reports on May 28, four photographed on Con. 12, Burnt Lands PP, Lanark (RCa) and three seen in, Hastings (JB, KeMo), followed by eleven reports on May 29, from five counties, Hastings, Peterborough, Lennox & Addington, Leeds-Grenville and Frontenac (BER, DaE, JoH, JPo, RCa, RJY, KRY, TR, TB, KeMo). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, four seen on June 19 at Mew Lake (KeMo) and one female on June 29 at the Old Airfield (RMA). On June 12 one was photographed on Hwy 638, Meredith Twp., Algoma (MOli) and on June 21 one was seen near Ear Falls, Kenora, by far the northernmost record (AlH). In the south there were three reports from rare, Waterloo: one photographed on June 19, two on the 25th and one on July 1 (JuRe). Apart from these there were no records southwest of Toronto. There were two reports of nectaring, on Blackberry on May 29 at Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville (RT) and on purple vetch on June 7 at Scenic Road & Rozak Road, near Wilno, Renfrew (EA). The highest counts were 17 on June 13 at Wintergreen Studios, south of Fermoy, Frontenac, part of the Kingston Field Naturalists’ 17th Bioblitz (DLe) and 22 on June 11 on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). The season extended into July, with the latest ones on the 4th, one fairly fresh seen on Alvar Road in the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (RJY, KRY) and on the 6th, one photographed in a grassy area at Echo Lake, Frontenac (BVR).

Polites peckius PECK’S SKIPPER

In 2015 - 233 records. The first record was of one seen, and chased away by a Checkered Skipper, on May 25 at the Superstore in Leamington, Essex (GRT). Next were two reports on May 28, one seen at Fairnorth Farm, Norfolk (KaB) and one photographed on the Arthur Langford Nature Reserve, Norfolk (ErG). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one on June 19 at

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Mew Lake (KeMo) and one on July 6 at Found Lake (RMa). There were 17 reports from the north. There were two from Algoma, one seen on June 11 at the Sault College woodlot in Sault Ste. Marie (MOli) and (no number given) on July 28 on the Little White River at Kynoch Creek (CDJ, PSB, KTu); three reports from Thunder Bay, including one photographed on Hwy 593 south of the Arrow River in Devon Twp. (TeAr); three reports on July 11 from Sudbury, all around Killarney, part of the Killarney PP Count (FGi); and nine between July 2 and July 30 from Rainy River (MSD, DHE). There were a few reports of freshness: on July 4 RJY and KRY reported three “fresh” on the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes, and on July 22 RAL reported a fresh one at Bells Corners, Ottawa. BAM photographed one “fresh, second generation” on August 22 at Wallaceburg, Lambton, and saw “two worn, two fresh” on September 15 at Brander Park, Port Lambton. And finally, the latest two records: one “fairly fresh” seen on October 11 at Lambton Park, Metro-Toronto (AA), and one “extremely fresh female” photographed on October 25 at the Superstore, Leamington, Essex (GRT). It is difficult to sort out the generations, but it seems fairly certain that there were at least three generations represented there. There was just one report of nectaring, on July 2 on Chicory, east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There were 18 counts of ten or more, with 34 reported on July 5 at Georgina Central, York, as part of the Sunderland Count (TB, JB, RD) and 76 on August 23 at James Gardens, Metro-Toronto (RJY). The season ended with three reports in October; the latest two have already been mentioned, above.

Polites themistocles TAWNY-EDGED SKIPPER

In 2015 - 306 records, starting with one seen on May 17 at Morninglory Farm, Renfrew (EA), followed by two reports on the 24th, one photographed on Haskins Road south of Burritts Rapids, Leeds-Grenville (BeLa) and two seen on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and Hwy 38, Peterborough (LBe). There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on June 17 at the Visitor Centre (LF, PBM, RMa), and four from further north in Nipissing, in the North Bay area (TRei). There were 21 reports from the north: six reports from Algoma, June 16 to July 5, all from MOli, including two photographed on June 24 on Hwy 17 at the City limits of Sault Ste. Marie; eight from Rainy River, June 11 to July 27, mostly from MSD; three from Kenora, including one photographed near Upper Falls Road, off Hwy 105 north of Vermilion Bay (CaE); two from Sudbury, including one seen at the Chikanishing Parking Lot during the Killarney PP Count (FGi); and two reports from Thunder Bay, including three photographed on July 1 on Hwy 593 south of the Arrow River in Devon Twp. (TeAr). There were three reports of nectaring: on July 6 on Purple Flowering Raspberry, on Lincoln Ave., Metro-Toronto (RJY); on September 15 a very worn one nectaring on Alfalfa, on Huntley Road north of Richmond, Ottawa (LJ); and on September 20 a male, faded and with wing-edges torn, on Heath Aster and New England Aster on the TransCanada Trail west of Tweed, Hastings (JBar). In addition, on June 3 LJ saw a group of at least ten taking salts from damp sand on the Rideau Trail, south of Dwyer Hill, Ottawa, and on July 30 JBar saw males “active on emergent rocks and puddling on wet algae”, at two sites along the Moira River, in Tweed. There were clearly two generations but no indication of when the second one started. Numbers were low with only nine counts of ten or more. Highest were twenty seen on May 26 at Morninglory Farm, Renfrew (EA) and 21 seen, some photographed, on Rocky Saugeen Road West, Grey (LMN). The two latest records were from Harrow, Essex: one photographed on October 20 and another on November 2 (JL).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Polites origenes CROSSLINE SKIPPER

In 2015 - 77 records. The first report was on June 20, one nectaring on hawkweed, caught and released on the TransCanada Trail off Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ). Second was a report of two seen on June 23 at High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY). There was one northern record, one photographed at 2 pm on July 13 on trails west of South Baymouth, Manitoulin (TRa). There was just one other report of nectaring, one photographed on July 31 on Purple Coneflower on Lincoln Ave., Metro-Toronto (RJY). There were four counts of more than ten, the highest on July 10, 23 seen at High Park (RJY) and on July 11, 71 seen at Lambton Prairie, Metro-Toronto (RJY, KRY). There were three very late records, in August: one photographed on the 1st at Cambell St., Inverhuron, Bruce (LMN) and on the 19th three seen, and the 25th one seen, at Pinery PP, Lambton (BKu).

Polites mystic LONG DASH SKIPPER

In 2015 - 309 records, the earliest on May 29, two seen on Foster Road, Prince Edward (PMC, BK), followed by two reports on June 4, one seen on Wylie Road in the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (MaP) and three seen in the Echo Lake Sedge Marsh, Frontenac (BER). There were eight reports from Algonquin PP, seven in Nipissing and one in Halibuton; they ranged in date from June 13 to July 3, highest count an estimate of forty on June 29 at the Old Airfield (RMa). There were forty reports from the north, 28 of them from Algoma, from June 16 to July 15, all from MOli, highest count five, photographed on June 21 in the Trunk Road and South Market Street area, Sault Ste. Marie. There were eleven reports from Rainy River, June 21 to July 17, including seven from Devlin; on June 29 MSD photographed one there, nectaring on Ox-eye Daisy. There were three reports from Sudbury, on July 11 at two locations near Killarney (FGi) and on July 25, one seen in a string bog at the Wenebegon Wetlands PP (PSB, RaL). There was one report from Kenora, one photographed on June 29 at the pond on the Eady Farm near Eagle River (CaE), and two from Thunder Bay, including four seen on July 17 at the Cascades CA (AlH). There were seven other reports of nectaring, on Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Red and White Clover, Cow Vetch (JBar, RT, LJ). There were 24 counts of ten or more, the highest the count of forty mentioned above, and fifty, estimated on July 6 in a wet and dry meadow at the end of Zephyr Road, Durham (TM). The latest reports were on July 27, one seen at Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB, MGi) and on August 8 one photographed at Wasaga Beach PP, Simcoe, during the Wasaga Beach Bioblitz (CR).

Polites vibex WHIRLABOUT

In 2015 - no records, last reported from James Gardens in Etobicoke, Metro-Toronto, last year.

Wallengrenia egeremet NORTHERN BROKEN-DASH

In 2015 - 197 records. The first reports were of four on June 19 and one on the 20th, studied, photographed and collected near the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There was one other report on June 20: two seen at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY). On July 13 one was photographed on trails west of South Baymouth, Manitoulin, only the third record from that county (TRa). Other than this record, the northernmost were two reports from near

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Fitzroy Harbor, Ottawa, one seen on July 15 and another on the 19th, nectaring on Cow Vetch (RAL). There were eight other reports of nectaring, all near Tweed, Hastings (JBar), seven of them on Cow Vetch, the other one a male on Wild Bergamot, on July 19. There were six counts of ten or more, the highest ones 15 on July 26, at Sandy Lake, Peterborough (LBe) and 41 on July 11 at Lambton Prairie, Metro-Toronto (RJY, KRY). The latest reports were on August 16, one seen on Old Scugog Road, Port Perry, Durham (RP) and on August 19 three seen at Pinery PP, Lambton (BKu).

Pompeius verna LITTLE GLASSYWING

In 2015 - 83 records, starting with one of two fresh males seen on June 18 at High Park, Metro- Toronto (RJY), followed by one photographed on June 19 at Sandbanks PP, Prince Edward, the first record for the Park (KOs).There were three new county records, showing that the species is spreading towards the northeast, and in good numbers. On July 4, RJY and KRY saw seven and photographed some on Wylie and Alvar Roads on the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes, a new County record, and between July 10 and 25, at three other locations, there were five more records from the county (DKa, MaP, MaTo, LBe). On July 3 RCa photographed one on the E4 Trail in the Marlborough Forest, the first record for Ottawa, and between July 4 and 12 there were eight more records from Ottawa (CGa, JMu, RCa). On July 8 PH saw one at Reveler CA, the first record for Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry. There were six counts of ten or more, the highest ones 15 on July 8 on the Pangham Trail, off Opinicon Road, Frontenac (JPo, MCS), and twenty on June 20 at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY).The latest records were on August 3 and 13, one seen each time on the Cliffs and Alvar Trail, and on August 16, one seen in the Thompson Tract, all three records at rare, Waterloo (TSk).

Atalopedes campestris SACHEM

In 2015 - no records, none since 2012, when it was reported all over southwestern Ontario, and as far east as Kingston.

Anatrytone logan DELAWARE SKIPPER

In 2015 - 170 records. First reports were on June 13, two seen on Wolf Grove Road, west of Almonte, Lanark (DA), and on June 18, one seen on the Richmond Road hydroline south of Bells Corners, Ottawa (PH). There were no records from the north; the northernmost were three from Fifth Line Road, Ottawa, on July 4, 12 and 30 (CGa) and one from Morninglory Farm, Renfrew on July 3 (EA). There were four reports of nectaring, on Common Milkweed at the edge of a marsh along the TransCanada Trail off Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa, on July 3, 8 and 20 (LJ), and on False Hedge Bindweed at Tweed Memorial Park on Stoco Lake, Hastings, on July 10 (JBar). There were six counts of more than ten, the highest twenty on the Oshawa Butterfly Count, at the Rogers Tract, 2 km south of Utica, Durham (JK, LKa), and 21 at High Park, Metro-Toronto on July 10 (RJY). The three latest reports were in August: on the 1st, one photographed at Cambell St., Inverhuron, Bruce, (LMN); on the 2nd, one seen at High Park (RJY); and on the 7th one seen at Cedar Haven Farm, Hamilton-Wentworth (BVR).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Poanes massasoit MULBERRY WING

In 2015 - 52 records. The earliest records were on July 3, one photographed on Trail E3 at the Marlborough Forest, Ottawa (RCa) and three seen on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (JB), followed by three reports on the 4th, two seen on July 4 on Con. Road 7, south of the railway tracks, near Puslinch, Wellington (LBe), four on Coon Lake Road and five on 8th Line, North Dummer, Peterborough (JB). There were no reports of nectaring, although on July 9 JBar reported one female perching on low vegetation on the north side of the TransCanada Trail near Tweed, Hastings. On July 21, beside the TransCanada Trail off Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa, RAL saw and collected two males, in a marsh where 99.999% of the plants are the alien European Lake Sedge, Carex acutiformis. There were seven reports of ten or more, the highest 36 seen on July 11 on the Kinmount railtrail between Howland and Dutch Line, Haliburton (RP), and 69 counted, some photographed, on July 14 at Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB). The latest reports were on July 27, when two were seen on Sandy Lake Road and one on County Road 46 north of there (TB, JB, MGi), and on the next day, July 28, when one was seen on Sandy Lake Road (TB, JB, KeMo).

Poanes hobomok HOBOMOK SKIPPER

In 2015 - 535 records. The first report was of one seen on May 17 on Third Lake Road, Frontenac (BER), followed by two reports on May 20: one photographed in the Kelso CA, Halton (BVR), and one photographed nectaring on Dandelion on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There were 17 reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from June 3 to July 12, highest count thirty, on June 13 on Barron Canyon Road (BER). There were 47 reports from the north. There were 28 from Algoma from June 3 to July 15, all by MOli, highest count seven, on June 11 at the Sault College Woodlot, Sault Ste. Marie; eleven from Rainy River from June 4, one at the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah- Nung Historic Site at Stratton (DHE) to June 26, one photographed at Devlin (MSD); four from Thunder Bay, including one photographed on June 9 on the Sawyer Bay Trail in Sleeping Giant PP (TRa); two from Sudbury, including one seen on June 9 on Tilton Lake Road (JK); and two from Kenora, including one photographed on June 28 at the Breeding Bird Survey location, north of Waldhof (CaE). There were eleven reports of nectaring, on Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Red and White Clover, Dandelion, Blackberry and Lilac (JBar, JaK, RT, MSD, RAL). There were no reports of larvae or egg-laying behavior, but on June 16 near Tweed JBar observed courtship behavior between a male and a dark pocahontas-form female, but the “female was not receptive and no mating occurred”. There were 54 counts of more than ten, and three of more than a hundred, all by RJY in Metro-Toronto: at Eglinton Flats he counted 145 on June 3, and at High Park he saw 186 on June 11 and 271 on June 4.The latest reports were on July 22, one seen at High Park (OSt) and August 10, one seen at Inlake Court, Peel (CWe).

Poanes zabulon ZABULON SKIPPER

In 2015 - no records in 2015, none since 2001, at the Stone Road Alvar on Pelee Island, Essex.

Poanes viator BROAD-WINGED SKIPPER

In 2015 - 60 records. The first records were on July 3, one seen on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

(JB) and on July 4, one seen near Manion Corners, Ottawa, during the Manion Corners Count (PH). These were followed by three reports on July 5: one seen on Sideroad 17, 3.5 km SW of Sunderland, Durham, during the Sunderland Count (JoF, MPr), and two reports from the Larose Forest, Prescott- Russell, two photographed on Con. 10 and three on Clarence-Cambridge Road near Grant (RCa). There were three reports of nectaring, in a marsh bordering the Trans-Canada Trail off Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa, on Common Milkweed and Canada Thistle, on July 16, 20 and 24 (LJ). There were ten reports of ten or more, the highest 55 seen on July 12 during the Oshawa Count, in a sedge marsh in a kettle pond at the Crow’s Pass CA, 1 km north of Chalk Lake, Durham, (JK), and 67 seen on July 27 on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB, MGi). The latest three dates were in August: on the 2nd one seen at Reid CA, Lambton (BAM), on the 8th one photographed on Daimler Drive, Kitchener, Waterloo (BoA) and on the 11th one photographed at Kelso CA, Halton (BVR) and one seen on Sandy Lake Road (JB).

Euphyes dion DION SKIPPER

In 2015 - 30 records, starting with one seen on July 2 at Valens CA, Hamilton-Wentworth (BVR) and one seen on July 4 near Manion Corners, Ottawa, during the Manion Corners Count (PH). There were two reports from Rainy River, one photographed on July 27 in the Geographic Twp. of Spohn (DHE, MSD), and one photographed while nectaring on Echinacea, at Devlin on August 9 (MSD). Apart from those, the northernmost record was one seen on July 16 in the orchard at Morninglory Farm, Renfrew (EA). There were three other reports of nectaring, in the marsh bordering the Trans- Canada Trail off Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa, on Common Milkweed on July 10, 16 and 24 (LJ). On July 10, near the TransCanada Trail at Tweed, Hastings, JBar witnessed and photographed a courtship competition “two males and one female; the males were constantly sparring with one another, one of the males eventually mated with the female”. Numbers were low, the highest three counts of six: on July 14 six were seen on Sandy Lake Road, and another six on County Road 46 north of Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB), and on July 28 yet another six were seen on Sandy Lake Road (TB, JB, MGi). The latest date in the south was the July 28 record on Sandy Lake Road, and in the north, the August 9 record at Devlin.

Euphyes dukesii DUKE’S SKIPPER

In 2015 - eight records, five of them by BAM at Reid CA, Lambton, between July 1 and August 2, highest count eight, on July 26 and August 2. On July 18 three were photographed at Brunet Park LaSalle, Essex (BAM, IW, JL). The latest two records were from a rural area south of Belle River, Essex, two photographed on August 3 and twelve on August 4 (PDe).

Euphyes conspicua BLACK DASH

In 2015 - 12 records, starting with one seen on July 4 at the NCC Big Creek Block, on Hazen Road south of 60, Norfolk (KaB), and one seen on July 5 at the Spencer Creek Marsh at Flamborough, Hamilton-Wentworth (LMa, RoDo, DaDo). Most reports were of singles, but there was one good count of 23, some photographed, on July 18 at the Spring Garden complex at Windsor, Essex (BAM, IW, JL). The latest records were on July 27, one seen at the Boy Scout’s Camp at the Pinery PP boundary, Lambton (BKu), and three seen on July 28 on the Cliffs and Alvars Trail at rare, Waterloo (TSk).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Euphyes bimacula TWO-SPOTTED SKIPPER

In 2015 - 19 records. The first record was on June 15, one photographed on the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (WF), and the second on June 16, five photographed on a hydrocut, west of Sideroad 30, Bruce (LMN); that count of five was the highest number reported. On July 1 one was seen in a sedge marsh near the roadside on County Road 31, east of Sideroad 55, Grey (JK), the first record for Grey. The northernmost record was one photographed on July 3 on the south side of Stoll Lake at Massanoga, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). There were seven records from Peterborough, including five from Sandy Lake Road between June 20 and July 18 (TB, JB, LBe, RP). There were four records from Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), including two photographed on June 26 on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, and there was a second record from Kawartha Lakes, on July 4 on Wylie Road in the Carden Alvar (RJY, KRY). The latest date was July 18, with three records, all from Peterborough: two seen in the Kasshabog Lake area (MaP, MaTo, KiBa, ShBa); one on Sandy Lake Road south of Forestry Road 83 (RP) and one on West Kosh Road (TB, ABi, RD).

Euphyes vestris DUN SKIPPER

In 2015 - 383 records, starting with one on June 13 at Wintergreen Studios, on Canoe Lake Road south of Fermoy, Frontenac, during the Kingston Field-Naturalists’ Bioblitz (DLe). Next was one seen on June 20 in the vicinity of Simpson Road, Prince Edward, during the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists’ Bioblitz (MVB). There were three reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from July 2 to July 18, and four on July 9 from locations further north in Nipissing, near North Bay, including a record of two photographed on Evergreen Road in the Widdifield Forest (TRei). There were 11 reports from Algoma from July 5 to August 12; highest count three, on August 5 on the powerline right-of-way north of Lock City Dairy, Sault Ste.Marie (MOli). There were 22 reports from Rainy River, July 2 to August 7; highest count twenty, of which some were photographed, on July 27 in the Geographic Twp. of Spohn (DHE, MSD).There were five reports from Sudbury, June 26 to July 11; highest count four, on July 11 at the Old Quarry at Killarney, during the Killarney PP Count (FGi). And there were two records from Thunder Bay, one seen on June 25 on Alice Avenue (NGE), and two seen on July 17 at Cascades CA (AlH). There were seven reports of nectaring, on Cow Vetch (five reports), Common Milkweed, Red Clover and Brown-Eyed Susan (JBar, RT, HTh, LJ, RAL). There were 48 counts of ten or more, and four of more than a hundred, all from Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough. The highest were 182 on July 27 (TB, JB, MGi) and 195 on July 26 (LBe). There were two records on August 31, both singles, east of Tweed near Collins Point, Hastings (JBar) and on the Ontario Hdydro Road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). The very last record was on September 1, one seen on County Road 14 at Hwy 417, Prescott- Russell (PH).

Atrytonopsis hianna DUSTED SKIPPER

In 2015 - two records, both from Pinery PP, Lambton, one photographed on June 3, and one seen on June 28 (BKu).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Amblyscirtes hegon PEPPER AND SALT SKIPPER

In 2015 - seven records. Two of the earliest three records were on the K & P Trail, Lanark; one photographed on May 24, 3 km north of Flower Station (DaE, JoH) and one collected on May 29, 1.5 km north of Flower Station (RAL, RCL). The other early one was on May 28, one photographed at Backus Woods, Norfolk, the only record from the southwest (JCo). On June 7 three were photographed on Pond Meadows Road, Huntsville, Muskoka (TB, KeMo, JB), and on June 13 six were counted on Cameron Lake Road, Algonquin PP, Nipissing (LF), the highest count and the latest report. There were two reports from Rainy River, one photographed on July 1 at Atikokan Municipal Airport (DHE, MSDF) and one seen on June 9 on Jim Lake Road, near Atikokan (DHE).

Amblyscirtes vialis COMMON ROADSIDE SKIPPER

In 2015 - 32 records, starting with three photographed on May 14 on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). Next were ten seen on May 17 on Alvar Road on the east side of the wetland, in the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (SuB, DaBo). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, two seen on June 13 on Cameron Lake Road (LF) and one on June 14 at West Gate (RMa). There were six reports from the north, four from Rainy River, June 1 to June 10, including on June 1 one photographed on Raft Lake Road near Atikokan (DHE, MSD). And there were two reports from Kenora, three seen on June 24 at Richan (AlH) and one photographed on June 11 on Granite Bluff Trail in Rushing River PP (TRa). There were just two reports from the southwest, both at Pinery PP, Lambton, one seen on June 3 and another on June 28 (BKu). The highest counts were three of ten: on June 3 at the Howie Road extension, Ottawa (PH), on May 28 in the Burnt Lands PP, Con. 12, Lanark (RCa), and on May 17, mentioned above. The two latest dates are already mentioned above, June 24 at Richan and June 28 at Pinery PP.

Calpodes ethlius BRAZILIAN SKIPPER

In 2015 - no records, reported only once in 1991 at Point Pelee NP, Essex.

Panoquina ocola OCOLA SKIPPER

In 2015 - seven reports, of which four were new county records. All were very late season migrants, the earliest one on September 14; it had travelled by far the farthest, to the Ornamental Gardens at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, where it was seen and photographed on Globe Amaranth (ASh). Next was one on September 21, photographed and collected at Monarch Landing, Elgin (AaA), it is now in the Anne Vance Collection. On June 26 one was photographed at the ECO Centre at rare, Waterloo (JuRe). On October 1 one was seen on Chestermere Avenue, Scarborough, Metro-Toronto “3.30 pm, after a cool night a sunny 6-8 degrees C. In our yard I noticed a skipper swooping about on strong wings and landing on Brazilian Verbena flowers in the Verbena garden. It was photographed and last seen at about 5.30 pm. It had a white spotband on the forewing upperside. The largest spot was shaped like an arrowhead” (BH). On October 7 one was seen and photographed by two people at the Windermere Basin at Hamilton, Hamilton-Wentworth (DdE, SRi). And the latest was a fresh one photographed on October 10, nectaring on New England Aster on a marsh trail at Erieau, Kent (BAM). The new county records were from Ottawa, Elgin, Waterloo and Kent.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Family: PAPILIONIDAE

Battus philenor PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - two records. One was photographed on May 24 at Harrow, Essex, “flitting around the Dutchman’s Pipe that I have planted in my yard” (JL). Another, a second-or third-generation female, was photographed on August 4 at Brunet Park, Windsor, Essex (MaNe).

Eurytides marcellus ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - no records. Last reported in 2012 at Sparrow Field, Point Pelee NP, Essex.

Papilio polyxenes BLACK SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - 366 records, the first on May 3, two seen on Elmbrook Road, Prince Edward (JD), followed by two reports on May 6, one seen at Fairnorth Farm, Norfolk (KaB) and one on Bayview Ave., Metro-Toronto (JCa). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, but one from further north in Nipissing, a larva photographed on September 12 at North Bay (CCor). There were 22 reports from the north, 20 of them from Algoma between May 23 and August 22, almost all by MOli; his highest count was three on August 3, at Trunk Road in the South Market Street area in Sault Ste. Marie. There were also two reports from Rainy River, one photographed on July 16 at the junction of Hwy 602 and Hwy 611, and one seen on July 23 at Devlin (MSD). There were five reports of ovipositing, two on Queen Anne’s Lace, two on Wild Parsnip; on May 19 at Twin Elm Road, Richmond, Ottawa, LJ reported egglaying on Wild Parsnip plants that were only two inches tall. There were 19 reports of larvae, on Wild Parsnip (CH), on Dill (JLon) on Carrot (RAL), and, on August 20 at Sault Ste. Marie, seven larvae and an egg with no mention of the foodplant (XW). There were five reports of nectaring, on Dandelion, Yellow Rocket, Canada Thistle and Butterfly Milkweed. Numbers were extremely low, with 265 reports of just one! The highest were two counts of nine, on July 22 on an old rail line near Fleming Road and Hwy 7, Lambton (AlH) and on August 30 at the OPG Powerdam Fields at Cornwall, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry (RDo). The latest reports were in October, from Kent: one seen on the 12th at Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, and one on the 14th at the Roberta Stewart Wetland (BAM).

Papilio machaon OLD WORLD SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - one record, a larva seen on August 6 at Longridge Point, Cochrane, (ChF, BNC).

Papilio cresphontes EASTERN GIANT SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - 287 records, starting with three reports on May 17: one seen on Elmbrook Road, Prince Edward (JD), one seen at the Park Office at Charleston Lake PP, Leeds-Grenville (CPR) and one photographed on a side trail link of the Rideau Trail at Opinicon Road, Frontenac (JPo). The northernmost location was 5 km SE of Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, where there were nine reports from July 31 to September 1 (RAL, RCL, WL). There were twelve reports of larvae, eight of which mention the foodplant: Prickly Ash. The larvae ranged in size from 3/16 inch, on June 20 on Ramsay Con. 7A, Lanark (KaT), to about 60 mm, on September 27 on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed,

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Hastings (JBar). There were nine reports of nectaring, on Swamp Milkweed in a pond and on Obedient Plant (RAL), on Brown Knapweed and Red Hawkweed (RT) and on Bull Thistle, Joe-Pye- Weed and Tartarian Honeysuckle (JBar). There were also five reports of puddling at wet mud in the Tweed area from July 24 to August 16 (JBar). Numbers were very low, with only seven reports of more than ten. Three of these, counts of 43, 30 and 17 were from large vaguely-described areas of Pelee Island, Essex, August 7 to 9 (RJY, KRY). The highest counts from discreet locations were forty counted on August 6 at West Beach and the main road in Point Pelee NP, Essex (RJY, KRY) and 14 seen on August 7 at the outflow of the Ducks Unlimited pond, Prince Edward (PMC, BK). The two latest reports of adults were on September 17, one seen at the Dumfries CA, Dunbar Road, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe), and one seen on September 24 at Westmount, Tillsonburg, Oxford (CiCr).

Papilio glaucus EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - 470 records. The first reports were of two seen on May 8, one at Charleston Lake PP, Leeds-Grenville, on the Park Road between the Canoe Launch and Shady Ridge (CPR) and the other on Lincoln Avenue, Metro-Toronto (RJY). There were no northern records at all, the most northerly were the five from Ottawa, and the most easterly two records from Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas- Glengarry, one on July 9 (DMoo) and one on August 6 (CH). Fresh second generation specimens were reported in late July, on July 25 at High Park, Metro-Toronto, and on July 30 in the Franklin Children’s Garden on Centre Island, Metro-Toronto (RJY, KRY). Females were reported nectaring on Fireweed, Common Milkweed and Cow Vetch, and males on Spreading Dogbane and Wild Bergamot, and on July 7 a female was seen puddling at moist sand and gull droppings, all near Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There were no reports of courtship behavior, egg-laying or larvae. There were just eleven counts of ten or more; the highest three, 16 on May 26, twenty on June 18 and 32 on June 4, were all in the first generation and all from High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY). The latest reports were on August 30, one seen on the GB Hydro right-of-way, west of Sideroad 30, Bruce (LMN), and one photographed on September 10 at rare, Waterloo (JuRe).

Papilio canadensis CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - 525 records, the earliest one seen on May 13 in a marsh beside O’Hara Road, Hastings (TMa). Next were four records on May 14, one seen west of McCarthy Road, Ottawa (RT), one photographed at Jones Falls, Leeds-Grenville (JPo), two photographed on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and one seen at Woodbridge, York (CCr). These were followed by 17 records on May 17, from nine counties! There were 25 reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from May 24 to July 3, highest count at a specific location 31, on June 11 on the Mizzy Lake Trail (JaRi). There were 109 reports from the north. There were 51 from Algoma from May 18 to July11, most from MoLi, highest count 15 on June 2 on ATV trails at Elliot Lake (CBe). There were 28 reports from Rainy River from May 22 to June 28, highest count four, on June 10 on Hwy 622 north of Atikokan (TRa). There were eleven from Thunder Bay, June 2 to July 2, no high counts, all ones and twos. There were ten from Kenora, May 27 to June 25, highest count five, at Richan on June 24 (AlH). And there were eight from Sudbury, May 28 to June 29, no count higher than two. There were 15 reports of nectaring, on Tartarian Honeysuckle, Dames Rocket, and Lilac (JBar), Common Milkweed, Indian Hemp, yellow and red hawkweed (RT), Cranesbill, Moss Phlox, and Bachelor’s Button (LJ), Cypress Spurge and Hawthorne (RAL). On May 29 on the K & P Trail

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______north of Flower Station, Lanark, RAL and RCL counted about thirty “mud-puddling on damp gravel. When they flew I could see two dead ones, probably road kills, lying on their side, where the densest clump of butterflies had been”. There was one report of larvae: on June 20 XW collected one, at Kingston, Frontenac. There were 36 counts of ten or more, the highest 39 on May 28 on Charlie Allen Road, Peterborough (TB) and 77 on May 29 on the K & P Trail, in the first 3.3 km north of Flower Station (RAL, RCL). There were about 15 reports of this species in mid-July, which are just as likely to have been the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but with no photos, nor any comments on condition it is impossible to tell. The only record which mentioned condition was one on July 3, from near Massanoga, Lennox & Addington, one photographed “missing tails and very worn” (DaE, JoH); there can be no doubt about that one.

Papilio troilus SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL

In 2015 - 33 records. The first reports were on May 17, a male photographed at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY), and one seen on May 20 at North Backus, Norfolk (ErG). The northernmost records, by far, were two from the Greenock Swamp, Bruce: two photographed on June 3 on Concession 10E and one seen on June 5 on Concession 10W (LMN). A report of a worn female on August 6 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP, Essex (RJY, KRY) shows that the first generation was coming to an end, and an increase in the number of reports in late August clearly shows the beginning of the second generation. There was one report of nectaring, on August 22 on Buddleia at Port Ryerse, Norfolk (CWo, SW). Numbers were very low; the highest were five, on August 23 at the 5th Concession, Cultus, Norfolk (KaB, AaA) and six on August 22 at Spring Garden Park/Ojibway Park at Windsor, Essex (BER). The latest reports were on September 4, one seen at Rosetta McLain Gardens, Metro-Toronto, during the RMG Raptor Watch (WF), and a very worn one seen on September 15 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP (RJY, KRY).

Family: PIERIDAE

Pontia protodice CHECKERED WHITE

In 2015 - three records, all from Rainy River. On August 1 one was photographed nectaring on thistle on Hwy 600 at Wilson Creek Road (MSD), and two were observed on August 8 and (no number given) on August 16th at Atikokan (DHE).

Pontia occidentalis WESTERN WHITE

In 2015 – one record, on August 8, they were seen at Atikokan (DHE), no number given.

Pieris oleracea MUSTARD WHITE

In 2015 - 347 records, starting with one photographed on April 29 at the southwest end of Klondike Road in the Marlborough Forest, Ottawa (RCa) and one seen on May 1 on NCC Trail 26 in the Stony Swamp at Bells Corners, Ottawa (ASh). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and 36 from the north. There were eight from Algoma, first generation May 16 to June 12, and one of the second generation on August 12, one seen on the Tribag Mine Road in Palmer Twp. (MOli). There were 17 from Rainy River, May 3 to September 3, two generations, though the starting date of the

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______second cannot be determined (MSD, DHE). There were six from Thunder Bay, May 9 to August 27, including one caught and released on August 9 on Caribou Island, in Lake Superior, east of the City of Thunder Bay (SBr). There was one from Kenora, one photographed on July 27 at the north end of Dinorwic Lake (ERi). And there were six reports from Cochrane, between August 18 and September 5, all at Northbluff Point on James Bay (RWo, SSu); these were quite abundant, with estimates of forty on two dates, August 18 and 24, and 120 on August 27, the highest number anywhere. There were 21 reports of nectaring, on Coltsfoot, Broad-leaved Toothwort, Dandelion, Tartarian Honeysuckle, Bladder Campion, Cow Vetch and Red Clover (JBar), Marsh Marigold and high in a large Shadbush tree (RAL), Blueberry (RT, LJ), Spring Beauty (CH), and thistle (MSD). On May 17 at Beaver Meadow CA, Prince Edward, PMC saw seven, and “one laid two eggs on Garlic Mustard, hatched 5 days later, pupated on 08/06/2015”. On May 10, near Tweed, Hastings, JBar saw one “female, spring form, at Yellow Rocket growing along the stream, appeared to be ovipositing”. Numbers were low, with 235 reports of just one or two, and only 15 reports of more than ten. Highest counts in the south were 23 seen on June 26 on Nolan Road, Prescott-Russell (TB), and 28 seen on May 7 on NCC Trail 26 at the Stony Swamp, Bells Corners, Ottawa (ASh). The season almost finished in early September, with five records from four counties on the 5th, including a record of twenty seen at Northbluff Point (RWo, SSu). But then there was one record (third generation?) seen by two experienced people on October 7 at the Windermere Basin, Hamilton- Wentworth (DdE, Sri).

Pieris virginiensis WEST VIRGINIA WHITE

In 2015 - 42 records. First records were on April 29: six seen, some photographed at Wintergreen Studios, south of Fermoy, Frontenac (ARo) and seven seen at the Hilton Falls Complex and nine at Crawford Lake Tract 2, Halton (BVR). There were six reports from five locations in Algoma, May 13 to 31, highest count 14 on May 31 on Eagle Mine Road in Vankoughnet Twp. (MOli). Apart from those, the northernmost record was one photographed on the K & P Trail 2.5 km north of Sharbot Lake, Frontenac (DaE, JoH). On May 6 there were two reports of nectaring, on Trout Lily and on a violet, and one report of ovipositing three feet from a trail, at Crawford Lake, Halton (BVR). The highest counts were at least twenty, on May 9 south of Roslin, Hastings, the first record for Hastings (JBar) and 25 on May 7 at a protected location in Frontenac (PH). The latest records in the north were two on May 31, at the Eagle Mine Road, mentioned above, and five photographed on Robertson Lake Road, both in Vankoughnet Twp, Algoma (MOli), and in the south one on June 1, one photographed on the Uhthoff Trail at Orillia, Simcoe, the first record for Simcoe (MaTh).

Pieris rapae CABBAGE WHITE

In 2015 - 2,120 records, from 47 of Ontario’s 49 Counties and Districts; we missed only Renfrew and Parry Sound. The earliest records were one seen on March 27 at Milne Hollow, Metro-Toronto (BrP) and one seen at 3.10 pm on April 11, flying across the yard at Harrow, Essex (JL, KLa). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on May 13 on the Mizzy Lake Trail and three on May 14 on Hwy 60 at Smoke Lake (JaRi). There were 215 reports from the north, 133 of them from Algoma, between May 13 and October 4, highest count 23 on July 18 in the Pine and Wellington area of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were 62 reports from Rainy River, May 5 to September 21, mostly from Devlin (MSD). There were 13 reports from Thunder Bay, July 2 to September 20, highest count nine on August 2 at Rosewood Crescent, Thunder Bay, “primarily in/on

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______turnip, some wild mustard also present” (TeAr). There were four reports from Kenora, the northernmost one photographed on August 9 at Taggart Lake (SFe). Finally, there were two reports from Sudbury, including one photographed on September 23 at Laurentian University, Sault Ste. Marie (CBl), one from Timiskaming, four seen at the New Liskeard Sewage Lagoons on July 9 (LBe), and one from Cochrane, one seen on August 21 at Northbluff Point (DaHo, SSu). There were many reports of nectaring, on a variety of common plants, just two reports of pairs in copula, and two reports of larvae, five on August 3 and twelve on November 11, in both cases on Garden Kale near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa (RAL). There were ten reports of 100 or more, the highest a count of 360 on July 12 near Raglan, Durham, during the Oshawa Count (DBa, MC) and the second a count of 266 on July 11 in the Lower Don Section of the Toronto Count (GrS, KSe). There were 21 reports in November, the latest two on the 19th, one seen at the Park Store in Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (DBr), and one seen on the Doris McCarthy Trail in Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (BH).

Ascia monuste GREAT SOUTHERN WHITE

In 2015 - no records, reported only once in 1991 at Point Pelee NP, Essex.

Euchloe ausonides LARGE MARBLE

In 2015 - six records. On May 24 and May 30 they were reported, no number given, from Atikokan, Rainy River (DHE) and on June 1 one was photographed at Atikokan Municipal Airport (MSD, DHE). One was photographed at 2 pm on June 9 on the Sawyer Bay Trail in Sleeping Giant PP, Thunder Bay (TRa). The latest records were one seen on June 12 on Alice Avenue, and one seen on June 19 at Bowker, 4 km southwest of Ouimet, Thunder Bay (NGE).

Euchloe olympia OLYMPIA MARBLE

In 2015 - 30 records. First reported on April 29, one on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough, (TB, RD). This was followed on May 2 by two seen on Canoe Lake Road, Frontenac (BER), and on May 3 by six seen on Sandy Lake Road (TB, MGi) and ten photographed on MacGillivray Road, Frontenac (BER). There was one report of nectaring, one photographed on May 17 on Wild Mustard near Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville (RT). There were three records from Algoma, the first for the District and the northernmost records for the species; these were all on Shaw Road, about 58 km east of Sault Ste. Marie, three on May 20, 15 on the 21st and eight on the 24th in an “ area where road crosses under power lines twice” (MOli). Most reports were of more than one, but there were only four counts of ten or more, the highest 16 seen on May 9 on Hwy 7 west of Kaladar, Lennox & Addington (PMC, BK) and twenty on May 8 at the Foley Mountain CA, Leeds-Grenville (PH). The latest records in the south were on May 24, one photographed on the south side of the west arm of Riley Lake, Muskoka (EP), and one seen on June 3, on open rock near the shore of Georgian Bay, at Henvey Inlet First Nations Reserve (FNR), Parry Sound (JK).

Colias philodice CLOUDED SULPHUR

In 2015 - 1,918 records. The first two reports were on May 1 from Norfolk: one seen at Greens Corner (JeSi) and one at Backus South (ErG), followed by one from Ottawa, one seen on May 2 on

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Darlington Private (RT). There was just one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, three seen on June 13 on Barron Canyon Road (BER). There were 98 reports from the north. There were 55 reports from Algoma, May 21 to October 4, highest count six, on 5th Sideroad on St. Joseph’s Island (MOli); there were 25 from Rainy River, June 1 to October 11, highest count twenty on July 27 on Hwy 619, in the Geographic Twp. of Nelles (DHE, MSD); in late summer there were five from Thunder Bay, June 30 to October 11, highest count 12 on September 16; there were two from Sudbury, including one on August 27 at the George Lake Campground in Killarney PP (AEG); there were two from Kenora including one on August 8 at Taggart Lake (SFe); and seven from Cochrane, all from Northbluff Point, on August 23 and 27 (RWo, SSu) and from August 31 to September 9 (JaCh, ArM). There were 44 reports of nectaring, on a wide variety of plants, but most often on Dandelion, from May (JBar, PMC, RT) to November (JBar, BVR, ASh). Very unusually, there were nine reports of ovipositing, on Cow Vetch (five times), Bird’s-foot Trefoil (twice), White Clover (twice) and Alfalfa (once). Eight of these reports were from around Tweed, Hastings, on July 3 and between August 10 and September 21 (JBar). The other report was on May 21, on Cow Vetch at Leamington, Essex (GRT). Numbers were often high, but there were only twelve reports of a hundred or more. There were two estimates of 200, on August 18 at the Dance Nature Reserve, Peterborough (MaP) and on September 15 at Point Petre, Prince Edward (DaE, JoH), but the highest was an estimate of at least a thousand, on August 18, in clover and alfalfa fields 6 km north of Richmond, Ottawa (LJ). The season continued very late, with 106 reports in November. The latest were three reports on the 18th, four males at Tweed Fairgrounds, Hastings (JBar), two, one very fresh-looking, at Burgess Park near Woodstock, Oxford (JaHo), and one at Presqui’ile PP, Northumberland (KAn), and a final one on the 19th, one seen at Rushmore and Netherby Roads in Welland, Niagara (RCa).

Colias eurytheme ORANGE SULPHUR

In 2015 - 346 records. The earliest reports were on May 16, at Point Pelee NP, Essex, one seen at West Beach and four on Northwest Beach (RJY, KRY), followed by one on the 18th from Leamington, Essex, a male seen on Bluebird Street (GRT). There was one record from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, four worn specimens seen, some photographed, on September 20 at the Old Airfield (BAM). There were 18 reports from the north: eight late-season ones from Algoma between August 9 and September 15, highest count four on September 13 on Fort Road, Jocelyne Twp., St. Joseph’s Island (MOli); eight from Rainy River between June 5 and September 13, highest count three, on July 27 on Hwy 619, in the Geographic Twp. of Nelles (DHE, MSD); and two from Thunder Bay, two seen on July 17 at the Cascade CA (AlH) and four photographed on September 19 at the Marie Louise Campground in Sleeping Giant PP (TeAr). There were six reports of nectaring, all after mid- September: on Dandelion, goldenrod, Heath Aster and New England Aster at Tweed, Hastings (JBar) and on September 16, near Richmond, Ottawa, on “old Alsike Clover, headed purposefully north when disturbed” (LJ). Numbers were usually low but there were 25 reports of ten or more, the highest about forty seen on September 16 at Seacliff, Essex and 55 seen on September 15 at Point Pelee NP, Essex (RJY, KRY). There were twenty records in November, far less than in the previous species. The three latest were on November 16: one seen at the T.A. Lannan Sports Complex at Port Colborne, Niagara (RCa); five seen at West Beach, Point Pelee NP (AW), and one seen at the marina at Port Lambton, Lambton (BAM).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Colias gigantea GIANT SULPHUR

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2013 in Kenora.

Colias pelidne PELIDNE SULPHUR

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2013 in Kenora.

Colias interior PINK-EDGED SULPHUR

In 2015 - 30 records, first reported on June 16, six seen on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (JB) and on June 19, one seen at Mew Lake, Algonquin PP, Nipissing (KeMo). There were two other reports from Algonquin PP, at the Old Airfield, thirty on June 29 and two on August 9 (RMa), and three from further north in Nipissing, on July 29 at three locations near North Bay (TRei). There were 17 reports from the north: two from Algoma, including two photographed on August 12 on the Christina Mine Road (MOli); four from Kenora, including one photographed on July 13 at Vermilion Bay (JVK); ten from Rainy River, July 7 to October 10, most near Atikokan (DHE); and one from Thunder Bay, one seen on July 9 at Kenwell (AlH). There were just four counts of more than ten, the highest 24 seen on June 22 on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (LBe, JB) and the thirty mentioned above. In the south the latest reports were on July 26, one seen on Sandy Lake Road (LBe) and the two seen on August 9, mentioned above. In the north the latest were on July 27, three seen near Pinewood, Dawson Twp., Rainy River (DHE, MSD) and the two photographed on August 12, mentioned above.

Colias palaeno PALAENO SULPHUR

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2010 in Kenora.

Zerene cesonia SOUTHERN DOGFACE

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2008 at Point Pelee NP, Essex.

Phoebis sennae CLOUDLESS SULPHUR

In 2015 - one record, a female seen clearly at about 3 pm on September 30 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP, Essex (GR).

Phoebis philea ORANGE-BARRED SULPHUR

In 2015 - no records, last reported on the Leslie Street Spit, Metro-Toronto, in 1987.

Eurema mexicana MEXICAN YELLOW

In 2015 - no records, only one record, in 1882 at Point Pelee, Essex.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Pyrisitia lisa LITTLE YELLOW

In 2015 - one record, an extremely fresh male seen on October 25, on the Seacliffe Park Hawkwatch at Leamington, Essex (AW).

Abaeis nicippe SLEEPY ORANGE

In 2015 - no records. Last reported from Point Pelee NP, Essex in 2012.

Nathalis iole DAINTY SULPHUR

In 2015 - no records. Last reported in 2013 in Tweed, Hastings.

Family: LYCAENIDAE

Feniseca tarquinius HARVESTER

In 2015 - 32 records, the earliest two photographed, one on May 7 at Cooper’s Marsh, Stormont- Dundas-Glengarry (RDo), and one on May 17 at Rock Dunder, Leeds-Grenville (BER). On June 13 there were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on the Cameron Lake Road (LF) and one photographed on the Barron Canyon Road at km 44.3 (BER). There were five reports from the north, four from Rainy River, June 1 to July 26, including one photographed in the Mud Lake area of LaVallee Twp. (DHE, MSD). And one was seen on June 13 at the Cascadews CA, Thunder Bay (AlH). On May 26 one was photographed “puddling at sand and gravel on the trail” east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar). On July 11 one was seen on the Haliburton Highlands Butterfly Count at a marsh NE of Kinmount, Haliburton (JK, RP), and another was seen on the Toronto Centre Count at Lambton Woods, Metro-Toronto (GRi). The highest count was seven, on July 1 on a TEA Count on the Betty Sutherland Trail in North York, Metro-Toronto (JCa, BoKo, RGo). There were six reports after August 1, including three from rare, Waterloo (JuRe). The latest were one photographed on August 30 on the Goose Lake Access Road, Muskoka (KS), and one seen on September 9 on the Dewberry Trail, Ottawa (GrS).

Lycaena phlaeas AMERICAN COPPER

In 2015 - 75 records, the earliest ones from the southwest: one seen on May 17 at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex, and one seen on May 18 at the Wilson Tract, Norfolk (RJY, KRY), followed by three more from Norfolk. There were five reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, three in June and two in September, finishing with two seen on September 26 at the Old Airfield (WiB, JakB, JA). There were six reports from the north, five from Algoma, again three in June and two late ones, starting with a report of three seen on June 2 on Hwy 17 east of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli) and finishing with one seen on September 26 near Elliot Lake (CBe). And there was one record from Sudbury, five seen on August 19 nectaring on goldenrod at Kelly Lake (CBl). There were six other reports of nectaring, all from near Tweed, Hastings and mostly late in the season; the flowers involved were Ox-eye Daisy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Fringed Aster, New England Aster, and Canada

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Goldenrod (JBar). There were three reports of more than ten: twelve seen on September 17 at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY), and twelve on July 22 and 22 on September 4 at the Sheffield CA, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). The latest reports were two on September 26, mentioned above, and on September 27, five photographed on the bike trail at the Bruce Pit, Bells Corners, Ottawa (ChB).

Lycaena dione GRAY COPPER

In 2015 - no records, no reports since July 18, 2001 at Keewatin, Kenora.

Lycaena hyllus BRONZE COPPER

In 2015 - 122 records. The earliest reports were one seen on May 24 on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar), and two on June 13, one photographed at the Hillman Marsh CA, Essex (BAM) and one photographed in the Wolfe Lake area, Leeds-Grenville (RT). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and twenty from the north. Two were photographed on July 12 in the Hub Trail area of Sault Ste. Marie, just the second record from Algoma. There was one report from Cochrane, on August 13 on Longridge Point, no number given (ChF, BNC). There were three reports from Rainy River, July 26 to August 25, including one photographed on June 27 in the Wilson Creek area of Dawson Twp. (DHE, MSD). There were fourteen reports from Alice Avenue, Thunder Bay, the first five larvae between June 5 and July 9, plus one more larval record on July 15. They were eating Rumex triangulivalvis, White Dock, never before reported as a host. The first adult, a male, was seen on July 14, and there were seven more records, latest August 22, highest count five on July 22. One was seen ovipositing on August 8, eggs which will pass the winter before hatching.

There was one report of nectaring, a female on September 4 on Stiff White Aster at the Perth Wildlife Reserve, Lanark (RT, HTh). And no reports of ovipositing, although LJ reported a female on August 30 among Swamp Smartweed, a likely foodplant, on Eagleson Road near Richmond, Ottawa. On September 15 RJY and KRY reported a female, not fresh, at West Beach, Point Pelee NP, Essex, and commented “rare at Pelee”. Numbers were very low; the highest were nine, on June 15 on the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (WF) and ten, on August 5 on the Ottawa River shore east of Mud Lake, Ottawa (RCa). The three latest records were in October, one seen on October 7 at Mersea Roads 2 and 21, near Wheatley, Essex (IW), and four photographed on the 10th and one on the 12th at Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, Kent (BAM).

Lycaena epixanthe BOG COPPER

In 2015 - 17 records. The earliest report was of one photographed on July 5 at the Long Swamp, near Manion Corners, Ottawa (KMu); naturalists have known for at least fifty years of the existence of a small bog hidden in this very large swamp, but this is the first time the Bog Copper has been seen there. The next reports were on July 8, three photographed at the Red Rock Lighthouse, Killarney, Sudbury, darting around Cranberry and probably Sweet Gale (NRu), and 25 seen, some photographed, on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). There were four reports from the north, one from Algoma, six seen on July 26 on Jim Lake Road, Atikokan (DHE), two from Sudbury, including on July 29 at Wenebegon River PP, no number given (CDJ, PSB, KTu, GRa), and one from Thunder Bay, six photographed on July 14 at William’s Bog

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

(AlH). The highest counts were on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, 25 seen and photographed on July 8, and 31 seen on July 16 (DaE, JoH). The latest reports were on July 29, mentioned above, and on July 31, nine worn ones photographed on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne (DaE, JoH).

Lycaena dorcas DORCAS COPPER

In 2015 - 19 records, the earliest three from the north: on July 6 at River Road and Hwy 617, Rainy River (MSD), on July 10 on Jim Lake Road, Atikokan, Rainy River (DHE) and on July 15 at the Cascades CA, Thunder Bay (AlH). The earliest record in the south was two photographed on July 16 on County Road 25 and Sideroad 20, Grey (LMN). There were seven reports from the north: one from Manitoulin, 15 seen on July 25 at Misery Bay (TRa, CBe, AdBe); four from Rainy River, including one seen on July 27 near Pinewood, Dawson Twp. (MSD, DHE); one from Sudbury on July 29 at the Wenebegon River PP, no number given (CDJ, PSB, KTu, GRa); and the Thunder Bay record mentioned above. There were six counts of more than ten, five of them from Bruce, the highest, forty seen on July 23 in a roadside fen on Sunset Drive, Brucedale (RCa) and 150 estimated on July 29 at Oliphant (JoRe). The latest records were at Dorcas Bay, Bruce, on August 22, 19 seen and photographed (CR) and on August 23, one photographed (CaMo), and one seen on August 27 at the Singing Sands in the Bruce Peninsula NP, Bruce (JK).

Lycaena helloides PURPLISH COPPER

In 2015 - no records. Last reported in 2012, north of Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma.

Satyrium acadica ACADIAN HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 147 records, the first adult report one photographed on June 22 on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and County Road 38, Peterborough (TB). This was followed on the 25th by three photographed at the Bruce Pit Trail, Ottawa (ChB) and on the 26th by one seen on Fire Route 68, Peterborough (LBe, JB). There were no records from Algonquin PP and just nine from the north: one in Sudbury, three photographed on July 22 at the Fielding Memorial Park (CBl), and eight in Algoma, including five reports from the Trunk Road in the South Market St. area, Sault Ste. Marie, between July 22 and August 11 (MOli). There were four reports of nectaring, on Common Milkweed at Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ, MJe) and on Milkweed, Ox-eye Daisy and Cow Vetch at Tweed, Hastings (JBar), and one report of a larva: on June 6 LBe collected one larva, on Deer Bay Reach Road South, Peterborough. He reared it, it produced an adult on June 23 and was released on the 24th. Numbers were low but there were eight reports of ten or more, from six different counties. Highest counts were 14 on June 26 at Eglinton Flats, Metro-Toronto (RJY, KRY) and 16 on July 15 at Cambell St., Inverhuron, Bruce (LMN). Six of the latest seven reports were from Algoma, the last on August 11, mentioned above. The only exception was one seen on August 4 at Lowe Road, Ottawa (PH).

Satyrium titus CORAL HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 101 records. The first records were on June 26, two photographed at the Moira River, west

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______of Keller Bridge, Hastings (JBar, TMa) and one seen at Eglinton Flats, Metro-Toronto (RJY, KRY). There was one northern record, a very worn one seen on July 28 on the Little White River at Kynoch Creek, Algoma (CDJ, PSB, KTu), only the fourth record from Algoma. Apart from that, the northernmost record was one photographed on August 18 at Burke’s Road, Point Alexander, Renfrew (JoW). There was just one record later than that, a very worn one photographed on August 22 at the Sheffield CA, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). There were two reports of nectaring, both on Butterfly Milkweed, both by BAM, a fresh one on July 11 at Taylor Pond near Muirkirk, Elgin and a worn one on July 18 at Spring Garden, Windsor, Essex. On June 3 at the Reveler CA, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry CH photographed a larva on Choke Cherry, the only report of immatures; this was the first report for the County, and there were four more, all from Reveler CA. There were ten counts of ten or more. On July 3 CH counted 12 at the Reveler CA, and the four higher counts were all at Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough: 22 on the 14th (TB, JB) and on the 28th (TB, JB, KeMo); and on the 18th, 13 at the beginning of the road and 24 on the road south of Forestry Road 83 (RP). The latest records were one photographed on August 18, at Burke’s Road, Point Alexander, Renfrew (JoW) and one photographed on the 22nd at Sheffield CA, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH).

Satyrium edwardsii EDWARDS’ HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 17 records. The first report was of a single on June 22 at Reid CA, Lambton (BAM), followed by one on the 24th at Sulphide Road, Kaladar, Lennox & Addington (LBe) and one on the 26th at Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (LBe, JB); all three were photographed. On July 4 BAM counted six at Reid CA and photographed some, and on July 6 TB and JB counted 14 at Sandy Lake Road, the highest count. The latest reports were from Sandy Lake Road, five on July 27 and one on the 28th (TB, JB), and at Reid CA on the 31st, four very worn ones and one dead one (BAM).

Satyrium calanus BANDED HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 219 records, beginning with one photographed on June 14 at Wendover Ave., Ottawa (PH), and two photographed on June 19 on the National Sewer Pipe Lands, Halton (BVR). There were three reports from Nipissing, two from Algonquin PP at the Visitor Centre, two seen on July 10 and 23 on the 18th (RMa), and one photographed on July 15 near Cedar Heights Road, North Bay (BTu). There were seven reports from the north, all from Algoma, the Sault Ste. Marie area, between July 12 and August 8, highest count four on July 24 on the Great North Road between the 4th Line and the 6th Line (MOli); there were only three previous records from Algoma. There were eleven reports of nectaring, on Common Milkweed, Queen Anne’s Lace and Wild Bergamot at Tweed, Hastings (JBar), on Milkweed, Fleabane and Common Valerian, near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa (RAL), and on Yarrow near Wolfe Lake, Leeds (RT). There was one report of a pair in copula, on July 2 on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed (JBar) and one report of immatures. On April 19 RAL checked two groups of eggs that he had found at the base of terminal buds on Butternut the previous fall; this was on Farmview Road, near Kinburn, Ottawa. The group of two had disappeared, the group of three was still there. On April 30 there was no change; on May 3 there was a tiny hole in each egg; on May 8 the holes were bigger and there were three tiny tracks of frass among the tiny leaves in the bud. On May 17 only one track of frass remained so the bud was collected. The larva pupated on June 2 and emerged on June 16. Most numbers were low but there were 14 reports of ten

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______or more; the highest were 55 seen on June 29 at Reid CA, Lambton (RHC) and 61 seen on June 4 at Lambton Prairie, Metro-Toronto (RJY). The latest records were both singles, photographed: on August 8 on the powerline right of way north of Lock City Dairy, Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma (MOli) and on August 15 on Norfolk Ave., Old Galt, Waterloo (BVR).

Satyrium caryaevorus HICKORY HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 53 records, starting with one photographed on June 19 at the Brickworks, southwest side, Halton, and two more photographed on June 22 while nectaring on New Jersey Tea and Yellow Sweet Clover at two locations on King Road, Bayview Park, Halton (BVR). There were two other reports of nectaring, on White Sweet Clover, on July 21 at Glenorchy Transect L, Halton, and on July 23 at Northpark, Oakville, Halton (BVR). On July 25 BeLa photographed a pair in copula, at Haskins Road south of Burritts Rapids, Leeds-Grenville. On June 25 TB counted 15 on Nolan Road, west of Hammond, Prescott-Russell, the first record for the County, and July 11 one was photographed on Wolf Grove Road, west of Almonte, Lanark, (KA), the first record for Lanark. There were six records of ten or more, the highest on July 2 when 31 were seen, some photographed, on the Pangman Trail, Frontenac (BER) and on June 26 when 60 were seen on Nolan Road (TB). The latest reports were on July 27, one seen on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB, MGi), one photographed on Reveler Sideroad, and 14 seen and some photographed at Reveler CA, Stormont- Dundas-Glengarry (PH). I take all of these high counts with a large pinch of salt; I don’t see how so many could possibly have been given the close detailed examination necessary to distinguish this species from the much more common Banded Hairstreak.

Satyrium liparops STRIPED HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 131 records. The first reports were of one seen on June 23 on the Howey Line near Eden, Elgin (KaB) and one on June 24 at Lambton Prairie, Metro-Toronto (RJY). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and 20 from the north, 14 of these from Algoma. These ranged in date from July 10 to August 13, and were all from MOli; highest count seven seen, some photographed, on July 11 at Trunk Road and South Market St., Sault Ste. Marie. There were five reports from Rainy River, July 10 to August 7; on that latest date one was seen at Jim Lake Road, Atikokan (DHE). And on July 26 one was seen on Hill Street in the City of Thunder Bay (AlH). There was one report of nectaring, on July 24, an old one with torn hindwings on Queen Anne’s Lace, in the marsh on the TransCanada Trail off Robertson Road in Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ). There were three records of larvae, all on Choke Cherry. RAL found one on May 18 near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa; he reared it, it pupated on May 29, produced an adult on June 13 and was released. CH photographed one on May 26 at Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, and BeLa photographed one on May 29 on Haskins Road, south of Burritts Rapids, Leeds-Grenville. Numbers were very low, with only three reports of more than ten: 12 were seen on a hydro cut east of County Road 1, Bruce (LMN), 12 were reported on July 11 at Reveler CA (RCa), and 16 were counted on July 10 at High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY); in each case, some were photographed. There were 16 reports in August. In the south, the latest date was August 9, two sightings on Simpson Road, at the stream, and at the Ducks Unlimited Pond, Prince Edward (PMC, BK). In the north, it was just a little later, with one photographed on August 10 and another on the 11th, at Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma (MOli).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Satyrium favonius SOUTHERN HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - five records, all photographed, four from Reid CA, Lambton, three of these by BAM: two photographed on June 19, one on June 24 and a very worn one on July 1. The other record from Reid CA was on June 29, two photographed by RHC. And on July 11 BAM photographed one at the Prairie Dock Prairie on Walpole Island, Lambton, a very old one, “near death, the first record for Walpole Island”.

Callophrys gryneus JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - ten records, beginning with four seen on May 17 at the alvar south of Odessa, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and one photographed on May 20 on the Rideau Trail at Elginburg, Frontenac (BER). On May 23 JBar photographed one on the TransCanada Trail west of Tweed, Hastings, in a location where there were only four Eastern Red Cedars “first encounter of the season, fresh vibrant colors, a richer deeper green than is usual”.. On June 13 RT photographed one nectaring on a daisy, near Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville. There was a second report of four, seen in Hastings on May 24 (TB, JB, BPr). The latest reports were on June 15, one photographed on Hwy 37 just north of Hwy 401, Hastings (RCa) and a worn one photographed on June 17 at the Menzel Centennial Nature Reserve, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH).

Callophrys augustinus BROWN ELFIN

In 2015 - 34 records. The earliest report was on May 1, six seen on the Blueberry Trail at the Ellice Swamp, Perth (GR). Next was a report on May 2 of three on Ironmine Road southwest of Howland Lake, Haliburton (EP), and four reports on May 3, from Perth, Lennox & Addington nd Peterborough. There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and six from the north: one photographed on June 4 at Blue Lake PP, Kenora (MSD); two photographed on June 8 at Wenebegon Wetlands PP, Sudbury (PSB, RaL); one seen on June 6, 5 km E of Nipigon, Thunder Bay (NGE) and one caught and released on June 27 on Caribou Island, in Lake Superior east of the City of Thunder Bay (SB); and in Rainy River, one photographed on May 4 in the Cranberry Peatlands Interpretive area in Alberton Twp. (MSD) and one seen at Nym Lake Bog on June 9 (DHE). The highest counts were 25 on May 6 and 34 on May 14, some of which were photographed, at the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). In the south the latest records were one seen on June 1, at the Hervey Inlet FNR, Parry Sound (JK) and three seen on June 4 on the Mer Bleue Boardwalk, Ottawa (PMC). The latest date in the north was June 27, mentioned above.

C/allophrys polios HOARY ELFIN

In 2015 - 32 records, starting with five seen on April 29 on Sandy Lake, Peterborough (TB, RD), followed by two seen on May 2 on the Third Lake Road by the hydrolines, Frontenac (BER), and four records on May 3, from three different counties. At 4 pm on May 23 TRa saw one laying eggs, on the Old Beach Trail, on the beach just before the point, in MacGregor Point PP, Bruce. At 1.30 pm on June 2, in exactly the same place, he found two larvae feeding on Bearberry; these were from the eggs laid on May 23. There were six northern records: on May 8 singles at two different spots on a powerline north of Elliot Lake, Algoma (TRa); two from Kenora, including one photographed on June 11 on Granite Bluff Trail in Rushing River PP (TRa), one from Rainy River on May 24 (no

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______number given) at Atikokan (DHE), and on May 5 three seen at Cavers Pit, Thunder Bay (NGE). There were four records of ten or more, the highest twenty seen on May 8 (RAL, RCL) and thirty on May 6 (DA), both at the Burnt Lands PP off Golden Line Road, Ottawa. On May 28 RCa saw and photographed eight on Con. 12 in the Burnt Lands PP, Lanark; the only two records later than that are mentioned above, on June 2 in MacGregor Point PP and on June 11 at Rushing River PP.

Callophrys irus FROSTED ELFIN

In 2015 - no records, extirpated in Ontario, last reported on May 22, 1988 at St. Williams Forestry Station, Norfolk.

Callophrys henrici HENRY’S ELFIN

In 2015 - 82 records. Twelve of the earliest thirteen records were from Ottawa, starting on April 27 with one photographed on Greenbelt Trail 24, south of Robertson Road (RCa); next on April 28 one was photographed on NCC Trails 43/44 off Davidson Road (AlB) and ten collected at Stony Swamp, at the hydroline on Richmond Road (CS). The first non-Ottawa record was on April 29, four seen on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, RD). There were no records from Algonquin PP or the north; the northernmost ones were from Constance Bay, Ottawa on May 3 (RCa, Dry) and May 4 (PH). There was one record of nectaring, at least five seen May 15 on Pussytoes and Blueberry, at NCC Parking Lot 6, on Old Richmond Road south of Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ). There were four counts of ten or more: twelve on May 3 on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, MGi), twelve on May 6 at the Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin, Ottawa (PH), and 18 on May 7 on NCC Trail 44, Ottawa (AlB). There were four records on May 24: two photographed on the K & P Trail north of Flower Station, Lanark (DaE, JoH); one seen at Riley Lake, Muskoka (EP); one seen at Newington Bog, Stormont- Dundas-Glengarry (RCa, DRy); and two photographed in a sandy marshy area at the Mer Bleue, Ottawa (RCa, DRy). The very latest record was one photographed on May 29 in Hastings (RJY, KRY, DaBo).

Callophrys lanoraieensis BOG ELFIN

In 2015 - one record, six seen and photographed on May 24 at the Newington Bog, Stormont- Dundas-Glengarry (RCa, DRy).

Callophrys niphon EASTERN PINE ELFIN

In 2015 - 91 records. The earliest record was on May 2, four photographed on Third Lake Road by the hydroline, Frontenac (BER), followed by five records on May 3, of which the highest count was three, photographed on Bishop Davis Drive, Constance Bay, Ottawa (RCa, DRy). There were no records from Algonquin PP or from the north; the northernmost was on Bekanon Road, Hervey Inlet, Parry Sound, two photographed on June 3 (JK). There were six reports of nectaring, on Blueberry, Bastard Toadflax and Ox-eye Daisy east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar) on Blueberry and White Clover at Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville (RT), and on Ox-eye Daisy near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa (RAL). There were also three reports of “puddling at dry sand and gravel on the trail”, east of Tweed (JBar). On May 24 one was photographed ovipositing on a White Pine, at the Manestar Tract, St. Williams, Norfolk (JCo) and on May 8, north of Golden Line Road and Turners Road, Ottawa, one was caught

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______and released very close to a solitary Red Pine, the only Pine of any species within many hundreds of yards (RAL, RCL). Numbers were low with just two counts of more than ten: eleven seen on May 6 on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and twelve photographed on May 18 at the Wilson Tract, Norfolk (RJY, KRY). The latest dates were June 15, a very worn one nectaring on Ox-eye Daisy near Fitzroy Harbour (RAL), and on June 29, one, wings faded and frayed, on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed (JBar). Callophrys eryphon WESTERN PINE ELFIN

In 2015 - six records, starting with four seen, one photographed on May 8 on ATV trails north of Elliot Lake, Algoma (TRa). Next were two photographed on May 14 at the east end of an ATV Trail at Dawson Pond, Haliburton (EP), the only record from the south. The other four records were all singles from Algoma, on May 23 at km 9 on the Carpenter Lake Road, on May 24 and 28 on Shaw Road, Kirkwood Twp., and on May 28 on Shaw Road, Bridgeland Twp. (MOli).

Parrhasius m-album WHITE M HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 – no records, last reported in 2013 at Point Pelee NP, Essex and Rondeau PP, Kent.

Strymon melinus GRAY HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - 34 records, starting with two on May 14, three photographed on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and one photographed on the trail to Rock Dunder, Leeds-Grenville (JPo, MCS). There was just one more record of the first generation, one seen on May 21 on Third Lake Road, Frontenac (BER). After that, the next records, the start of the second generation, are on July 6, one seen on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB) and one photographed on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, (DaE, JoH). There were three reports of nectaring, on Purslane on August 30 and on Shepherd’s Purse on September 4 at Tweed, Hastings (JBar) and very briefly on Bird’s-foot Trefoil, on July 27 on Hungry Bay Road, Frontenac (RAL). Numbers were very low, with only eight reports of more than one; the three highest counts were on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, six on July 8, seven on July 31 and nine on July 16 (DaE, JoH). Everything above refers to the resident population; the records are nicely grouped in Peterborough, Hastings, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac and Leeds. The latest six records for this population are all from Tweed, Hastings, the latest two on September 5 and 16 (JBar). But there were two records of late-season immigrants at Point Pelee NP, Essex: a fresh one photographed on September 16 at West Beach (RJY, KRY) and one seen on September 20, near the solar panel (STP).

Erora laeta EARLY HAIRSTREAK

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2013 from locations in Parry Sound, Haliburton and Renfrew.

Leptotes marina MARINE BLUE

In 2015 - no records, none since 2008 at Toronto, Mississauga, Peel and Leamington Essex.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Cupido comyntas EASTERN TAILED BLUE

In 2015 - 536 records, the first two from Metro-Toronto, a male photographed on May 3 at Eglinton Flats (RJY, KRY) and one seen on May 4 at East Point Park (JeHa, BH). There were very few reports in early and mid-June; BVR reported a worn one on June 2 at Glenorchy Transect G, Halton, representing the end of the first generation, and on June 26 RJY and KRY reported a fresh second generation specimen at Eglinton Flats (RJY, KRY). The only northern records were from Rainy River, mostly from Devlin, five of the first generation from May 30 to June 9, and fifteen of the second from July 14 to September 13 (MSD, DHE). There were ten reports of nectaring, on Wild Strawberry, Fringed Aster, Red and White Clover (JBar), Stiff White Aster, Red and White Clover (RT) and on Tansy, at Devlin on September 3 (MSD). On September 16 LJ reported five at Green’s Road, south of Munster, Ottawa, of which one was “attracted by the smell of fresh asphalt (pothole repair), but fed on salts from shoulder gravel”. On July 16 MSD photographed a group of nine, clustered on and presumably feeding on a dead crow, on La Vallee Road South, below Cain Road in La Vallee Twp., Rainy River. There were 25 counts of ten or more, the highest 26 on May 26 at High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY) and 29 on August 30 at Heber Down CA, Durham (RJY, KRY). The three latest dates were in November, one seen on the 4th at Fairnorth Farm, Norfolk (KaB), and one photographed on the 2nd and another on the 7th at Harrow, Essex (JL).

Cupido amyntula WESTERN TAILED BLUE

In 2015 - seven records, starting with one photographed on June 10 on a trail near the Park Office at Quetico PP, Rainy River (TRa), four photographed on June 17 near Geraldton, Thunder Bay (AlH) and one seen on June 26 on Alice Avenue, Thunder Bay (NGE). The next record, four seen on July 9 at Kenwell, Thunder Bay (AlH), was likely the start of the second generation. On July 16 MSD photographed what appeared to be a Western Tailed Blue, among a group of nine Easterns, clustered on and presumably feeding on a dead crow, on La Vallee Road South, below Cain Road in La Vallee Twp., Rainy River. The last two records, on September 3 and 6, were at Devlin, Rainy River, one photographed on each day (MSD).

Celastrina lucia NORTHERN SPRING AZURE

In 2015 - 721 records. The earliest was one seen on April 16 at a woodlot in Brunet Park, LaSalle, Essex (JL) followed by five reports on the 18th, four of singles, and a report of five seen at East Point Park, Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (JeHa, BH). There were six reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from May 7 to June 20, highest count eight on June 13 on Cameron Lake Road (LF). There were 84 reports from the north, 28 from Algoma, from May 8, six seen north of Elliot Lake (TRa) to June 16, one seen in the South Market Street area of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were 31 reports from Rainy River, mostly from Devlin, from April 27 to June 23 (MSD, DHE). There were twelve reports from Thunder Bay between May 5, one seen at Summit Avenue in the City of Thunder Bay (SB) to June 17, ten seen near Geraldton (AlH). There were seven reports from Sudbury, May 7 to June 9, including one on June 8 at the Atlantic/Arctic Watershed sign, 110 km east of Wawa (TRa) and six from Kenora from May 3 to June 11, highest count 13 at Rushing River PP on June 11 (TRa). There were four reports of nectaring, on Pussytoes and Blueberry (LJ), on Cow Vetch (RT), on Garlic Mustard (LMN) and on abundant flowers of Blue Cohosh, on May 2 at Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry (CH). There were also two other reports of attempts at

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______feeding, on April 18 on the leaf buds of Tartarian Honeysuckle and on May 2 on the unfurling leaves of Alternate-leaved Dogwood (JBar). There were six reports of early stages. On June 11 TRa photographed an egg in Rushing River PP, and on May 26 one was seen laying an egg, north of Elliot Lake (CBe, ABe). On June 7 JCo photographed a 4th or 5th instar larva on Dogwood flowers, at Backus Wood, Norfolk. And on June 5, 6 and 15, near Fitzroy Harbor, Ottawa, RAL found larvae on Nannyberry, twelve in all, and collected them for rearing. There were often good numbers reported, with 94 counts of ten or more; the highest were 141 counted on May 14 on the blueberry trail in Ellice Swamp, Perth (GR, AM), and 150 estimated on June 2 on ATV trails around Elliot Lake (CBe). It is impossible to give a date for the latest record of Spring Azure. There is one sure record of a very worn one on June 11 near Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), but with no comments about freshness, the 18 records later than that could be any of the Azure species.

Celastrina neglecta SUMMER AZURE

In 2015 - 699 records. The earliest records of Summer Azure are equally difficult to decipher, and many of the earliest are just as likely to be late Spring Azures or Cherry Gall Azures. Typical are the earliest ones this year, on May 17 at East Cross CA, Durham (RP) and on May 24 at two places in Lennox & Addington (Dae, JoH). More believable are the next ones, six on May 30 at Point Pelee NP, Essex (BAM), on June 2, 19 and 27 seen at two places around Leamington, Essex (GRT) and on June 3, two in Backus Woods and five in the St. Williams Forest, Norfolk (MVB). There were four reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, June 11 to July 10, singles each time, and eleven reports from the north. There were five reports from Algoma, from July 10, one seen laying an egg at the Agawa Bay Campground in Lake Superior PP (TRa) to September 15, one seen on A Line Road on St. Joseph’s Island (MOli). There were three reports from Rainy River, July 19 to 27 (MSD, DHE) and two from Sudbury, both from near Killarney during the Killarney PP Butterfly Count (FGi). There was one record from Cochrane, the first for that District: one seen at Hwy 11 at the Fraser River, 85 km west of Hearst, on July 10 (LBe). There were nine reports of nectaring, on Cow Vetch, Indian Hemp, Ox-eye Daisy and Red Clover near Tweed, Hastings (JBar), on Spreading Dogbane at Sassafras Woods, Halton (BVR) and on Wild Marjoram at Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ). There were six reports of ovipositing, four times on Narrow-leaved Spiraea, on July 2, 5, 10 and 21 near Tweed (JBar) and once on Dogwood, on June 11 at Lambton Prairie, Metro-Toronto (RJY). There were often good numbers, with 61 counts of ten or more. The highest were 82 on July 11 at the Toronto Outer Harbour, North Shore, during the Toronto Centre Butterfly Count (JCa, CBig, MKel, AMLe, PSco) and an estimate of 100 on July 28 on the TransCanada Trail at Port Colborne, Niagara (RCa). There were 26 records in September, so there was clearly a second generation, and not only in the south. The latest were on September 25, four seen at the Leslie Street Spit, Metro-Toronto (BH, JeHa) and one on a marsh dike at the Peers Wetland at Wallaceburg, Lambton (BAM), and on September 26 one photographed on the bike trails at Stony Swamp at Bells Corners, Ottawa (RCa).

Celastrina serotina CHERRY GALL AZURE

In 2015 - 47 records. The first record was a perfectly fresh specimen photographed on May 4 at Riverwood Park Lake, Mississauga, Peel (SHi), the first report from that County. Then came two from Peterborough, on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and County Road 38: five seen on May 21 (JB), and four photographed on the 24th (LBe. These were followed by five reports on the 26th: two from near Tweed, Hastings (JBar), one from the K & P Trail at Flower Station, Lanark

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

(PH), and two more from Peterborough, on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and County Road 38, and between Blezard and Cameron (TB, JB). There were no northern records, but they ranged from West Beach, Point Pelee NP, Essex, six seen on July 5, at least one very worn (LBe), to near Fitzroy Harbour Ottawa, adults recorded from June 2 to June 13 (RAL). On June 4, at High Park, Metro-Toronto RJY saw a “female flying up from a small Black Cherry sapling with abundant leaf galls; first record for High Park”. On June 15 at Tweed, Hastings JBar saw and photographed two “larvae about 10 mm in length, on (but not observed eating) Chokecherry leaves infested with mite galls, one caterpillar was the victim of a predacious Stink Bug”. On June 5, 6, 13 and 15, near Fitzroy Harbour, RAL collected larvae from gall-infested leaves of Choke Cherry, eight larvae in all, for rearing. On June 20, 21 and 22, JBar saw one individual “puddling at moist sand and gravel on the trail, Black Cherry grows in this area”. The highest counts were six, at Point Pelee, mentioned above, and seven photographed on June 11 at Dumfries CA, Dunbar Road, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). The latest records were on June 22, one photographed west of Tweed (JBar) and one on the lakeshore at Emeryville, Essex (PDe), and on July 5, the Point Pelee record; two clear photos of very worn pale-underside specimens substantiate the identifications.

Glaucopsyche lygdamus SILVERY BLUE

In 2015 - 507 records. The first report was on May 3, a male seen at Eglinton Flats, Metro-Toronto (RJY, KRY). Next were two reports on May 4 from near Tweed, Hastings, two seen on the TransCanada Trail east of the town and a male seen puddling on moist sand along the Moira River near Collins Point (JBar). There were nine reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, May 28 to June 20; the highest count was eight, on June 3 in the Hwy 60 corridor (LBe). There were 59 records from the north, 51 of them from Algoma, between May 14 and July 16 (MOli); the highest count was fifteen, on June 24 at Hwy 17 at the eastern City limits of Sault Ste. Marie. There were six reports from Rainy River, May 24 to June 8, four of them, including the first and the last, from Atikokan (DHE). And there were two from Thunder Bay, including one seen on July 9 at Kenwell (AlH). The southernmost record was nine seen on May 18 at the Wilson Tract, Norfolk (RJY, KRY). There were 15 reports of nectaring, one on Cow Vetch near Tweed (JBar) and the others on Cow Vetch, Dandelion, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Pussytoes, Winter Cress, Blackberry, Buttercup, Wild Strawberry and Red Clover at Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville (RT). There were three reports of pairs in copula, on May 19 and 26, west of McCarthy Road, Ottawa (RT), and six reports of females ovipositing on Cow Vetch, between May 20 and June 29 (JBar, JAK, RT, JCo, DaE, JoH). There were 58 counts of ten or more, the highest sixty on June 4 at High Park, Metro-Toronto, and 76 on June 3 at Eglinton Flats (RJY). The latest record in the north was one seen on July 16 on Hwy 17 near Bruce Mines, Algoma (MOli). But there were two later ones in the south, one seen on July 21 on Glenorchy Transect L, Halton, and two worn ones photographed on August 24 at the Kelso CA, Halton (BVR).

Plebejus idas NORTHERN BLUE

In 2015 - three records, starting with three seen on June 25 at Richan, Kenora (AlH). Next was one photographed on July 2 on Hwy 593 south of the Arrow River in Devon Twp., Thunder Bay (TeAr) and finally two seen on July 17 at the Cascades CA, Thunder Bay (AlH).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Plebejus melissa samuelis KARNER BLUE

In 2015 - no records, extirpated in Ontario, not seen since 1991, at the Manestra Tract at St. Williams Forestry Station, Norfolk.

Plebejus saepiolus GREENISH BLUE

In 2015 –no records, last reported in 2014 from three locations in Thunder Bay.

Plebejus glandon ARCTIC BLUE

In 2015 – no records, last reported in 2012 in Polar Bear PP, Kenora.

Family: NYMPHALIDAE

Libytheana carinenta AMERICAN SNOUT

In 2015 - 17 records, the first three obviously early migrants at Point Pelee, Essex, two fresh ones photographed on May 30 (BAM), then one on June 19 and an estimated twenty, both fresh and worn, on June 21, nectaring on Staghorn Sumac at the West Beach (RJY, KRY). There was one more early record, one photographed on June 24 at Chine Meadow, Bluffer’s Park, Metro-Toronto (WF). Then nothing until August, the first one on the 2nd at Brights Grove, Lambton (BKu), presumably the start of a second wave of migrants. These continued until mid-September with most of the records in Essex. There was a second report of twenty seen on September 15, at West Beach (RJY, KRY). The latest reports were on September 16, one seen at Northwest Beach, Point Pelee NP, and one at Seacliffe, Essex (RJY, KRY) and on September 24, one seen at Westmount, Tillsonburg, Oxford (CCr),

Agraulis vanillae GULF FRITILLARY

In 2015 - no reports, reported just once, in 2010 at Rondeau PP, Kent.

Euptoieta claudia VARIEGATED FRITILLARY

In 2015 - two reports. On April 6 one was seen at the Doris McCarthy Trail in Scarborough, Metro- Toronto, and another on April 7, a little further east at East Point Park, Scarborough (BH), although he speculates “it is possible that this same uncommon, very early butterfly was migrating eastward, and seen twice".

Speyeria cybele GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY

In 2015 - 525 records. The first report was of one photographed on June 13 at Fishing Lake, Frontenac (LMW), the second one seen on June 14 at Black River Road, Kawartha Lakes (RJY, KRY). There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen at the Visitor Centre on August 13 (RMa), and only 15 reports from the north. There were five reports from Algoma, July 18

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______to August 30, all singles except for a count of two on July 31 in St. Joseph Twp. on St. Joseph’s Island (MOli). There were four reports from Rainy River between July 19 and 27, singles each time (MSD, DHE), and two from Kenora, one photographed on July 12 north of Vermilion Bay (JVK) and one photographed on July 17 near Eagle River (CaE). There were two records on July 21 and 22 at Alice Avenue, Thunder Bay (NGE), one was seen on August 5 in the Mission Marsh Wildlife Area, Thunder Bay (RoJo) and another was seen on September 1 at Northbluff Point, Cochrane (JaCh, ArM), by far the northernmost record. On July 5 one was photographed in Amaranth Twp., Dufferin, the first record for Dufferin (LWa). There were 13 records of nectaring, on Canada Thistle, Bull Thistle, Common Milkweed, Red Clover and Monarda (LJ, RT, HTh, JMcL, GM, BVR). On August 30, on Haskins Road south of Burritts Rapids, Leeds-Grenville, BeLa photographed a female and commented “I saw her disappeared under the weeds so I took a closer look and it looked like she was running around and laying eggs on the violets there”. Three days later, on September 2, south of Bells Corners, Ottawa, ASh witnessed the same thing, one was “observed crawling deep into the undergrowth, looking to lay eggs”. On August 17, just off Golden Line Road, Ottawa, RAL saw one in a large spider’s web and was able to rescue it. Five days later, on August 22 on the Howie Road extension, Ottawa, RT and JMcL saw another one in a web, but they were too late, it was already dead. Numbers were low, just 21 reports of ten or more; the highest were a count of at least sixty on June 24 at Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry (CH) and one of 89 on July 8 in Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland during the Presqu’ile PP Count (PPP). There were 27 reports in September, the latest three, all photographed, from rare, Waterloo: three on September 20, three on the 25th and one on the 26th (JuRe).

Speyeria aphrodite APHRODITE FRITILLARY

In 2015 - 94 records. The first two were from the Lowe Road extension, south of Manion Corners, Ottawa, one seen on June 14 and four on June 20 (MOl). The next was two photographed on June 26 on the Ontario Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). There was one report fron Algonquin PP, Nipissing, a very worn one seen on September 20 at the Old Airfield (BAM). There were 16 reports from the north, including 13 from Algoma from July 8 to September 6, highest count four, on August 12 on the Christina Mine Road (MOli). There were two reports from Kenora, one photographed on July 17 at Waldhof (JVK) and another photographed on August 30, on Sowden Lake Road, northwest of Martin (TeAr). And on July 16 RJY saw one on Hwy 17 near Nairn, Sudbury. There was just one report of nectaring, one photographed on Canada Thistle on August 22, on the NE sideroad near the Howie Road extension, Ottawa (RT, JMcL). Numbers were very low with only nine reports of ten or more. The highest seven counts were from Peterborough, the highest two on Sandy Lake Road, 26 on July 27 (TB, JB, MGi) and 31 on July 26 (LBe). The season ended with five reports in September, of which the two latest were one photographed on the 6th on Fort Road in Jocelyn Twp., St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma (MOli), and the Algonquin PP record on the 20th, mentioned above.

Speyeria idalia REGAL FRITILLARY

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2000, at Holiday Beach CA, Essex.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Speyeria atlantis ATLANTIS FRITILLARY

In 2015 - 87 records, starting with one on June 26, five seen and some photographed on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). This was followed by two reports on the 29th, one seen at the Old Airfield in Algonquin PP, Nipissing (RMa) and one photographed in the Mary Ann Lake area, Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma (MOli). There were five reports from Algonquin PP, between June 29 and August 19, highest count ten at the Old Airfield on August 19 (RMa); this was also the latest date in the south. Most of the other reports were from the north, with only 18 from the south: two from Haliburton, including one seen on July 11 on Howland Road at the railtrail (JK); four from Lanark, highest count five photographed on July 2 on the K & P Trail at Lavant Station (PH); five from Lennox & Addington, highest count 15, on July 3 on the south side of Stoll Lake west of Masanoga (DaE JoH); and six from Peterborough, highest count two, on July 13 on Sandy Lake Road (JB). There were 28 reports from Algoma, June 29 to August 21 (MOli) and 18 from Cochrane, all from Northbluff Point between August 3 and September 10, highest counts six, on August 24 and 25 (RWo, SSu).There were ten reports from Rainy River, July 10 to August 30, four from Kenora including one photographed on August 8 at Taggart Lake (SFe).There were three reports from Thunder Bay, including two seen on July 19 at Bowker, 4 km southwest of Ouimet (NGE), and one from Sudbury, one caught and released on July 29 at Wenebegon River PP, (CDJ, PSB, KTu,GRa). The only notes were on records from Algoma, and they did not include a single mention of nectaring! The four highest counts are already mentioned above. The latest dates in the north were all from Northbluff Point, Cochrane; seven of these in September, the latest one on the 10th.

Boloria eunomia BOG FRITILLARY

In 2015 - 14 records, the first on June 6, one photographed on the Hungry Lake Barrens, Frontenac, the first record from Frontenac (RCa). Next were two records on the 7th, two seen on Beaver Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB) and ten at a bog on the Smaglinski Stoppa Parkway just west of Wilno, Renfrew (EA); he commented that they were “strong flyers, don’t like to land”. Surprisingly there was only one record from the north, on July 17 the latest record of all, one photographed in a fen strip around a central bog 3 km ESE of Red Rock, Algoma (RRo). There were six records from Algonquin PP, Nipissing from June 10 to June 19, highest count six on June 13 on Opeongo Lake Road (LF). There were two records from Lennox & Addington, both on the Hydro Road southwest of Cloyne: 19 were seen, some photographed on June 11 (DaE, JoH), a new county record, and on June 13, in a small bog at km 6.7, RAL saw eight in a very short time, and collected three; these were not in any way strong flyers. There was a second record from the Beaver Lake Road Bog, Peterborough, on June 13 LBe counted ten, and a second record from the bog near Wilno, on June 11 when RAL saw three and collected one; on a very windy day all three were perched deep inside shrubs, and blew away very quickly when disturbed. The highest count (19) and the latest date (July 17) are already mentioned above.

Boloria selene SILVER-BORDERED FRITILLARY

In 2015 - 116 records. The season began with three records on May 24: one seen on Con. 10 in the Larose Forest, Prescott-Russell (RCa, DRy), two photographed on the K & P Trail between Flower Station and the Renfrew County border, Lanark (DaE, JoH), and six seen, some photographed, at

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______rare, Waterloo (JuRe). There were five reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, all singles, from June 11 to July 2, and six from the north. There were four reports from Kenora, two at Richan, two seen on June 24 and one on the 25th (AlH), and one photographed at Vermilion Bay on July 17 and another just north of there on the 13th (JVK). On July 18 MOli photographed one on Old Goulais Bay Road north of the Sixth Line, Algoma, and on July 29 some very worn ones were seen at Wenebegon River PP, Sudbury (CDJ, PSB, KTu, GRa). There were 32 reports from rare, Cambridge, Waterloo, 27 of them from JuRe. This seems to be about the only place where the species is seen regularly. It is also the only place where the two generations can be discerned; records of the first generation run from May 24 to June 27, and of the second from July 11 to September 25. There was one report of nectaring, one photographed on August 22 on goldenrod, near the Howie Road extension, Ottawa (RT, JMcL). There were eleven counts of ten or more, six of these from rare. The greatest numbers seen were 15, some photographed, on August 4 on the Lowe Road extension, Ottawa (PH) and twenty on June 17 on the 8th Line, Douru-Dummer Twp., Peterborough (LBe, JB). The latest four records were all photographed, at rare: eleven on June 15, ten on the 18th, three on the 20th and two on the 25th (JuRe).

Boloria bellona MEADOW FRITILLARY

In 2015 - 125 records, starting with one on May 13, one nectaring on dandelion caught, studied, photographed and released along the Moira River near Collins Point, Hastings (JBar). Next were two records on May 17, two seen on Wylie Road in the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (SuB, DaBo) and one seen at Rogers Pond in the Marlborough Forest, Ottawa (GM). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and five from the north, four of these from Rainy River, between May 17 and July 24, and one from Kenora, this one photographed on July 17 at Vermilion Bay (JVK). There were two other reports of nectaring, one photographed on June 29 on Cow Vetch and Ox-eye Daisy on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar), and one photographed on July 16 on thistle at the junction of Hwy 602 and 611 in Alberton Twp., Rainy River (MSD). There were six reports of observations in wetland habitats, of various kinds (JK, RJY, KRY, JBar, TMa) and one in a dry alvar meadow, this one seen on May 28 in the Thorah Alvar east of Con. 8 and the Thorah Sideroad, Durham (JK). On August 15 RAL found a roadkill on the road just outside his house near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa and commented “first one I have seen here in years!”. The highest numbers were two counts of ten, on July 4 at the McArton Road extension, Ottawa (RCa) and on July 5 in the Georgina Central section of the Sunderland Count, York, (TB, JB, RD) and one of 14, on August 16 at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (KAn). The latest records were two on September 10, one photographed at Shirley’s Bay, Ottawa (HPi) and one seen on MacDonald Corners Road, Lanark (PH), and a final one on September 18, three seen on the trail north of Golden Line Road and Turners Road, Ottawa (ASh).

Boloria frigga FRIGGA FRITILLARY

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2014, one collected on June 29 at Fort Severn, Kenora.

Boloria freija FREIJA FRITILLARY

In 2015 - one record, one seen on May 5 at Cavers Pit, Thunder Bay (NGE).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Boloria chariclea ARCTIC FRITILLARY

In 2015 - four records, the first photographed on July 23 at the junction of Hwy 611 and River Road, Rainy River, and the second one seen on the 27th near Pinewood in Dawson Twp., Rainy River (DHE, MSD). Next was a very fresh one photographed on the 29th at Wenebegon River PP, Sudbury (CDJ, PSB, KTu, GRa), the first record from Sudbury, and the latest was one photographed on August 8 at Taggart Lake, Kenora (SFe).

Chlosyne gorgone GORGONE CHECKERSPOT

In 2015 - no records, last reported in 2012 at a site near Oxford Mills, Leeds-Grenville, now fully cultivated; colony probably destroyed.

Chlosyne nycteis SILVERY CHECKERSPOT

In 2015 - 47 records. The earliest report was of five photographed on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). This was followed on June 2 by a report of four seen in the Huron Natural Area, Waterloo (FGi) and on June 4 by two reports from the Jack Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB, BPr). There were five reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from June 13 to July 2, with the highest count on the earliest date, nine seen at the hydroline at km 50 on the Barron Canyon Road (BER). There were eleven reports from the north, includingfive from Algoma between June 21 and July 4; the highest count was three on June 25 on the Great Northern Road between the 4th and 5th Lines, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were three reports from Rainy River, singles each time, two from Kenora, including eight seen on June 24 at Richan (AlH), and one from Thunder Bay, one seen on June 27 at Alice Avenue (NGE). There were no reports of nectaring, but BVR reported five including a pair in copula on June 29 at Bronte Creek PP, Halton. There were just three counts of more than ten: twelve on June 19 at the Moore WMA, Lambton (BAM), another twelve on June 19 on the railtrail between the Blezard and Cameron Lines, Peterborough (LBe) and an estimate of twenty at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY). There were four late reports on July 4: at two places on the 4th Concession east of Hazen Road, and at the NCC Big Creek Block on Hazen Road south of 60, Norfolk, during the Long Point Butterfly Survey (KaB), and at the Wallwork Nature Reserve on St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma (RoJo). But the latest record of all was July 18, a worn one seen in oak savannah at the Ojibway Nature Reserve, Essex.

Chlosyne harrisii HARRIS`S CHECKERSPOT

In 2015 - 70 records. The first two adult records were on June 4, one photographed at the Echo Lake sedge marsh, Frontenac (BER) and two photographed in a Sand Quarry on Jack Lake Road, Peterborough (TB, JB, BPr). There were four reports from Algonquin PP, from June 9 to 20, highest count three, on June 19 at Mew Lake (KeMo) and on the 20th at the McRae Millsite on Lake of Two Rivers (RMa). There were 32 reports from the north, 27 of them from Algoma between June 10 and July 9, highest count 15 seen, some photographed, on June 17 in the Trunk Road and South Market Street area of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were three reports from Kenora, including two photographed on June 25 at Richan (AlH). Four were photographed on July 17 at the Cascades CA, Thunder Bay (AlH), and one was seen on June 30 on a railtrail beside Hwy 6, 5.6 km south of Espanola, Sudbury (RAL). There were no reports of nectaring but on June 13 RJY and KRY saw

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______about “100 sipping moisture along a 100 to 150 metre stretch of wet sandy road; several roadkills here as well”; this was on Black River Road, Kawartha Lakes. There were two reports of a single larva, photographed, on June 10 ten km south of Desbarats, Algoma (GM) and on June 11 at the Sault College Woodlot in Sault Ste. Marie (MOli), and one report with more information, 13 larvae photographed on Flat-topped Aster, on May 26 at the Menzel Centennial NR, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). There were six reports of more than ten, the highest estimates fifty seen, some photographed, on June 15 on the Hungry Lake Barrens, Frontenac (RCa) and about 110 on June 13 on Black River Road (RJY, KRY). The latest date in the south was July 8, a very worn one seen on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). Apart from that one, the ten latest dates were in the north, the latest two photographed on July 11 on McNabb Avenue, east of Black Road, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli), and the July 17 record mentioned above.

Phyciodes tharos PEARL CRESCENT

In 2015 - 331 records. The earliest report was of one photographed on May 1 on the main trail at Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry (PH), then no more until mid-May, with two reports on May 15, one seen at Point Pelee NP, Essex (LBe) and one photographed on Dancey Street, St. Williams, Norfolk (ErG). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, but one from Sudbury, two seen at the Old Quarry at Killarney during the Killarney PP Count, the first record from Sudbury and the northernmost record for the species (FGi). There were three reports of nectaring, on Red Clover, Cow Vetch and Daisy (RT, JBar) and two reports of pairs in copula, on June 24 east of Tweed, Hastings (JBar), and on August 28 at the Perth Wildlife Reserve, Lanark (RT, HTh). There were 28 reports of ten or more, with the highest estimates 100 on August 28 on the TransCanada Trail at Port Colborne, Niagara (RCa) and 60 on August 25 at Havelock Sewage Lagoons, Peterborough (LBe). There were four other high counts in this time period, which must have been the peak flight period of the last (third?) generation. There is a gap in the records, presumably separating first and second generations, only in Waterloo June 24 to July 6, and in Ottawa, June 25 to July 3. With no gaps in the records elsewhere it is impossible to distinguish the generations; because of this I have to wonder about the accuracy of many of the identifications. The three latest records, all with photographs, were from Cambridge, Waterloo: one on September 24 at Dumfries CA, one on September 25 at rare and three more at rare on October 7 (JuRe).

Phyciodes cocyta NORTHERN CRESCENT

In 2015 - 940 records. The earliest one was photographed on May 17 at an alvar area on County Road 6 south of Odessa, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), followed by two photographed on May 20 in the Burntlands PP, off Golden Line Road, Ottawa (PH), and two more reports on May 21, one seen on Love Road, Yarker, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH) and two photographed on the TransCanada Trail west of Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There were eight reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from June 13 to July 1. There were 174 reports from the north, of which 82 were from Algoma between May 29 and September 15, almost all of them from the Sault Ste. Marie area, by MOli, the highest count 53 on June 19. There was a gap in the dates of these records, with none between July 15 and August 9, marking the end of the first generation and the beginning of the second. There were 61 reports from Rainy River between June 4 and September 19, mostly from Devlin, by MSD; here the gap in the dates was a bit later, from August 2 to September 3, with only one later record, so the second generation was much less in evidence here. There were twelve reports

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

from Thunder Bay, eight from Kenora, seven from Sudbury, and two each from Manitoulin and Cochrane; in Cochrane the species was observed, no numbers given, on August 2 and 10 at Longridge Point, by far the northernmost records (ChF, BNC). There were ten reports of nectaring, on Red and White Clover, Ox-eye Daisy and Bird’s-foot Trefoil (RT, LJ, BH, MSD), and one report of a pair in copula, a mated pair photographed on September 4 sitting on a Common Milkweed leaf, at the Perth Wildlife Reserve, Lanark (RT, HTh). On August 10 RAL caught and released one near Kinburn, Ottawa and commented “fresh, my first crescent in 23 days, at 19 different locations”. This must have marked the start of the second generation at Ottawa; there were only four other records in the county between July 19 and August 10. Numbers were often high, with 170 counts of ten or more. The highest were 151 on June 24 on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and County Road 38, Peterborough (JB), and 256 on July 8 at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (PPP). In the north the latest record was on September 19, one seen at Atikokan, Rainy River (DHE). In the south five of the latest six dates were from Waterloo. The exception is the second latest one, five seen on September 27 on the West Beach Birding Footpath at Point Pelee NP, Essex (JLH). The latest was two photographed on October 11 on the Maple Lane trail in the Thompson Tract, at rare, Waterloo (JuRe).

Phyciodes batesii TAWNY CRESCENT

In 2015 - 17 records, starting with two in May, four photographed on the 29th on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), the first record for the County and the first of three from that location, and one seen on the 30th on Hungry Bay Road, Frontenac (RCa), the first record from Frontenac and the first of three from that county. There were no records from Algonquin PP and just one from the north, one photographed on June 11 on the Granite Bluff Trail in Rushing River PP, Kenora (TRa). There were no reports of nectaring, and just one report of mating. RAL observed a pair in copula flying, with the female carrying the male, on June 4 on the trail east of Haanel Drive, Bells Corners, Ottawa; these were part of a count of 25, the highest number. The second highest count was 12, some photographed, on June 13 at Black River Road, Kawartha Lakes (RJY, KRY). The latest records were on June 28, eight seen near Pinery PP, Lambton (BKu), and on July 2, one, somewhat worn, photographed in Blue Mountain Twp., east of the 4th Line, Grey, the first record for Grey (JK).

Euphydryas phaeton BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOT

In 2015 - 95 records. The earliest four adult records were from Sandhurst Shores, Lennox & Addington: two seen on June 5, one just emerging from a pupa, and singles on June 6, 7 and 8 (DaE, JoH); the next was one photographed on June 11 at the Dumfries CA at Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). There were no records from Algonquin PP and just four from the north. There were three reports from Algoma, highest count six, photographed on July 3 in the Hub Trail area of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli), and one from Rainy River, one photographed on July 27 in the Wilson Creek area (DHE, MSD). On June 25 one was photographed on Riverwood Park Lane, Mississauga, Peel, the first record for Peel (SHi). There were five reports of nectaring, on Ox-eye Daisy and hawkweed at Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ) and on Cow Vetch, Common Milkweed, Spreading Dogbane, Wild Parsnip and Queen Anne’s Lace at Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There were 19 reports of larvae or pupae, the three earliest from Sandhurst Shores, on April 29 one photographed among emerging new shoots of Turtlehead, on May 1 at least 32 on Turtlehead, and on May 9, 42 on Turtlehead and on other plants (DaE, JoH). On May

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

10 and 11 JBar also observed larvae on Turtlehead, and he twice saw them eating Tartarian Honeysuckle, on a dry hill west of Tweed, about 20 meters from the marsh where they had overwintered; this was on May 17 (two larvae) and May 18 (four larvae). On May 25, at a marsh bordering the TransCanada Trail west of Tweed, he photographed two larvae feeding on Swamp Vervain, Verbena hastata, and on May 29 two eating Broadleaf Plantain, Plantago major. These were all larvae which had overwintered, and there were three more later: on June 14 at Taylor Creek Park, Metro Toronto, six pupae and ten larvae (JK, LK, DEn, ClHa), and on June 18 a larvae beginning to pupate and on June 21 a pupa, west of Tweed (JBar). There was just one report of larvae of the current year: on July 29 at Tweed JBar photographed at least 20 larvae, about 10 mm long, in a silken nest on Turtlehead. There were nine reports of ten or more, the two highest 41 during the East Toronto Butterfly Count, in a riparian meadow and marsh at Little Rouge Creek west of Reesor Road, Metro-Toronto (JK), and 110 on June 11 in Area E of the Haliburton Butterfly Count, Haliburton (TB, JB, RD, KeMo). In the north the latest record was on July 27, mentioned above. In the south the latest adult records were on July 24, one photographed at Fletcher CA, at the tracks, Wellington (RCa), and on July 31, two photographed on the railtrail between Baseline and David Fife, Peterborough (TB).

Polygonia interrogationis QUESTION MARK

In 2015 - 266 records, starting with three very early ones that could very well be examples of overwintering in Ontario: sight records on April 13 at the Fishers Glen Property in the Long Point Basin Land Trust, Norfolk (ErG), April 18 at Point Pelee NP, Essex (EAS) and on May 3 at the Lusty Family Farm, in the Thames Talbot Land Trust, Elgin (CLe). Then nothing until one seen on May 14 at Twin Rivers, Metro-Toronto (JeHa, BH, TM), and the reports of migrants started to come in regularly, the first three in Essex, May 15 to 17, then no more from there until July. The first migrants were reported from Peterborough and Ottawa on the same day, May 29, singles seen on Devil’s 4 Mile Road, Peterborough (TB, KeMo) and on the Fifth Line, Ottawa (CGa). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and twelve from the north, eleven of these singles from Algoma between June 6 and September 21 (MOli). The other northern report was of one photographed on September 21 on the road to Meldrum Bay, Manitoulin (CBl). There were 31 reports of dark or summer form, and nine of light or winter form. All such reports from May 29 to July 19 were of the dark form. The first light form was reported on July 21, and both were seen from then until the end of the season.There were two reports of nectaring, on May 23 on Garlic Mustard on a wooded creek shore in Bruce (LMN) and on Common Burdock on Steeple Hill Crescent, Fallowfield, Ottawa (LJ). On July 15, on Lincoln Avenue, Metro-Toronto, RJY reported four, two fresh and two not fresh, feeding on fermented bananas, and on July 21 and August 25 near Tweed, Hastings, JBar photographed singles “winter form, puddling at wet sand and gravel on the trail”. There were just two reports of larvae, one found on Elm at the Nature Centre, Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland that pupated on August 15 (DBr), and one found on Hop on September 1 on Rideau Ferry Road, south of Perth, Lanark that pupated on September 4 and eclosed, and was released on the 16th (JJi). Numbers were very low, with 209 reports of singles. The highest counts were six, on June 19 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP (RJY, KRY) and nine on July 8 at Presqu’ile PP (PPP). There were twelve reports in September, the latest on the 23rd, one seen at the Ojibway Prairie NR (JK, JuEl), and then two on October 11, singles seen on the West Beach, Point Pelee NP (RJY, KRY) and at Homewood Avenue, Hamilton, Hamilton- Wentworth (PH) .

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Polygonia comma EASTERN COMMA

In 2015 - 867 records. The earliest records, all singles, were on March 20 on the Marsh Walk Trail, Hamilton-Wentworth (KC, HWi), on April 1 on the north shore of Pittock Lake, Oxford (JaHo), and on April 3 at Bestview Park, Metro-Toronto (SBr) and on Fifth Line, Ottawa, (CGa). There were four reports, all singles, from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from June 13 to August 12, and fifteen from the north. There were seven reports from Rainy River between April 12 and July 27, three from Kenora, the earliest photographed at the north end of Lake Dinorwic on April 14 (ERi) and the latest photographed on Roussin Road on August 20 (CaE), and one from Sudbury, one photographed on the Osprey Heights Trail in the Halfway Lake PP (MLy). There were three reports from Algoma, all photographed, showing very nicely the different generations: one of the overwintered generation on April 29 north of Elliot Lake (TRa), one of the summer generation on June 29 in the Pine and Wellington area of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli) and one of the overwintering generation on August 12 on the Christina Mine Road (MOli). From Sandhurst Shores, Lennox & Addington, DaE and JoH reported 68 times, and almost always listed dark (summer) or light (winter) forms. They reported light forms from April 14 to May 19, then nothing until June 20, when their dark forms started. All reports from then until August 1 were dark form, and everything from August 11 until the end of the season was light, again very nicely defining the generations.

There were many reports of feeding. RAL reported it on ten dates, July 5 to August 1, at sap on one small branch of a large Weeping Willow, often in the company of other species, near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa. One was reported feeding at Sapsucker drill holes on April 18 at Burlington Central Park, Halton (RHC). Both winter forms (on April 28) and summer forms (on July 3) were seen imbibing tree sap near Tweed, Hastings (JBar). On June 17 JBar reported one of each form “puddling” on fecal matter on the TransCanada Trail near Tweed. There were two reports of nectaring, on June 21 on Hoary Alyssum, near Bells Corners, Ottawa (LJ) and on July 4 on Common Milkweed near Fitzroy Harbour (RAL). And one report of feeding on water melon, on April 12 at Tillsonburg, Oxford (CiCr). There were two reports of larvae: on July 31 CH photographed a first instar larva in a flimsy shelter on Elm, at Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, and on June 17 RAL found four larvae on hops, near Fitzroy Harbour. Numbers were low, with 685 records of just one or two, and only fourteen of ten or more. The highest counts were 17, on September 5 on the Klondike Road extension in the Marlborough Forest, Ottawa (RCa) and 25 on July 4 in the Carden Alvar, Kawartha Lakes (RJY, KRY). There were twelve reports in November, the latest on the 15th, three seen and photographed at Rondeau PP, Kent (BAM) and one at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area (NWA), Prince Edward (BER), and one on the 17th, one seen on Wellington Strret, Port Colborne, Niagara (RCa).

Polygonia satyrus SATYR COMMA

In 2015 - two records, one seen on May 8 in the main garden at Morninglory Farm, Renfrew (EA) and one photographed on June 6 on Hwy 593 south of the Arrow River in Devon Twp., Thunder Bay (TeAr).

Polygonia faunus GREEN COMMA

In 2015 - 22 records, starting with one seen on April 17 in Trowbridge Falls Park in the City of

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Thunder Bay (SB). Next were two reports from the Klondike Road in Marlborough Forest, Ottawa, nine seen and some photographed on April 29 (RCa) and three photographed on May 2 (PH). Those last two were the only records of overwintered specimens in the south, although four more northern records in May and early June were also hibernators: two seen on May 5 at Cavers Pit, Thunder Bay (NGE), two on May 13 on the railroad tracks east of Marathon, Thunder Bay (NGE), and singles on June 1 near Atikokan, Kenora (MSD, DHE) and on the 9th in Sleeping Giant PP, Thunder Bay (TRa). The next generation started in July, on the 3rd in the south, three photographed on the E4 trail in the Marlborough Forest (RCa) and on the 13th in the north, one photographed at Vermilion Bay, Kenora (JVK). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing: a surprising 31 seen, at least two photographed and verified, on August 7 on the Mizzy Lake Trail (JaRi) and one seen on August 9 at Provoking Lake (RMa). There were four records from Algoma, August 12 to 22, highest count six on August 12 on the Christina Mine Road (MOLi), two from Kenora, two from Rainy River, one from Sudbury, a roadkill on July 24 in a parking lot at Kelly Lake in Fielding Park (CBl) and three from Thunder Bay, including one photographed on August 9 on Caribou Island, in Lake Superior east of the City of Thunder Bay (SB). The highest counts are already mentioned, six in the north and 31 in the south. The two latest dates were from Ottawa: on September 5 two were photographed on the Klondike Road extension in the Marlborough Forest (RCa) and on September 15 one was seen at Baskins Beach (RBa).

Polygonia gracilis HOARY COMMA

In 2015 - three records, one seen on May 5 at Cavers Pit, Thunder Bay (NGE), one photographed on June 11 near the north end of Lake Dinorwic, Kenora (ERi) and three seen on June 17 in the Geraldton area, Thunder Bay (AlH).

Polygonia progne GRAY COMMA

In 2015 - 299 records, starting with two on April 12, one photographed in Magwood Park, Metro- Toronto (RJY) “at sap; rare & earliest record for City of Toronto” and three photographed on the NCC trails in Stony Swamp, Bells Corners, Ottawa (JN). There was just one record from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on June 4 on the Mizzy Lake Trail (JaRi), and 18 reports from the north. There were eight records from Algoma, three of the overwintered generation and five of the one heading for hibernation, none of the short-lived mid-summer generation; the highest count was four, on August 12 on the Christina Mine Road (MOli). There were six reports from Rainy River, July 23 to August 13, including one seen on August 27 mudpuddling in the Cranberry Peatlands Interpretive Area in Alberton Twp. (MSD). There were four reports from Kenora, all singles, all photographed, including a very early overwintered individual on April 14 on Lake Dinorwic (ERi), two of the mid- summer generation on July 10 and 12, and one of the second generation on August 10 at Taggart Lake (SFe). There were 26 reports specifying the form or colour of the specimens, 11 of the dark (summer) form from June 23 to August 16, and 15 of the light (winter) form, in April and May and again from August 17 to September 15 (JBar, DaE, JoH). On April 28 RT saw one feeding at a seep of sap on a Maple tree, on a trail south of Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa. RAL saw one feeding on a small branch on a large Weeping Willow, on July 5, 15, 19 and 20, always together with Northern Pearly-eyes, once with a very worn Red Admiral as well; this was near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa. And there was one report of nectaring, one seen on July 20 on Common Milkweed on the Trans-Canada Trail south of Robertson Road, Bells Corners (LJ). There were no reports of

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

larvae, but on May 2 a female was reported flying around a currant bush, in Halton Regional Forest, Halton (RJY, KRY), and on May 8 one was reported “landing on gooseberry [bushes] and flying around the shrubs”, at the Beaver Meadow CA, Prince Edward (PMC). Numbers were very low with only 36 reports higher than two! The highest counts were six, on July 4 on the McArton Road extension, Ottawa (RCa) and on July 11 on the woodland trail at the Perth Wildlife Reserve, Lanark (PH), and eight seen, some photographed, on April 16 on the Old Quarry Trail, Kanata, Ottawa (PH). There were three reports, all singles, all photographed, in late September from Cambridge, Waterloo, on the 23rd at Riverside Park, and on the 25th and 26th on the Maple Lane Trail and Langdon Road at rare (JuRe). The latest two were another photographed on October 7, also at rare (JuRe), and one seen on November 3 at Pittock Lake, Oxford; contrast this with the thirty records of the Eastern Comma after October 1.

Nymphalis l-album COMPTON TORTOISESHELL

In 2015 -76 records. The first report was on March 6, the earliest report of any species. One was photographed on a building at the Young-Davidson Mine site, three miles west of Matachewan, Timiskaming (JTa) “temperature minus 19 degrees, on outside windowsill, east-facing in the morning sun”. This was followed by three reports on April 2: one photographed near Palmer Road in Madoc Twp., Hastings (TMa) “basking on leaf litter along the side of the road”, one seen on Hill Street, Thunder Bay (AlH), and one in La Vallee Twp., Rainy River (MSD). The separation in dates between the two generations is very clear: regular records until mid-May, the last one on the 24th at Islington and Kingsway, Metro-Toronto, (JCa, VCa), then nothing until June 25 when records started up again, almost every day. There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one observed on August 7 on the Mizzy Lake Trail (JaRi).There were ten reports from the north: three from Kenora including one photographed on July 13 at Vermilion Bay (JVK), three from Rainy River, two from Thunder Bay, one from Sudbury, one seen on July 25 at Lively (CBl) “flew in loose circles around me then went into canopy of white birch and landed upside down to rest” and the Timiskaming record mentioned above. Numbers were very low with only 16 reports of more than one. The highest were three counts of five, on July 11 on Bacon Road northeast of Kinmount, Haliburton (JK), on April 15 on the Greenbelt Trail south of Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa (RCa), and on July 3 on Fifth Line Road, Ottawa (CGa). The latest reports were of one photographed on October 7 on the bike trails at Stony Swamp, Bells Corners (RCa) and one photographed on October 11 at the mouth of Turkey Creek, McKenzie Bay, Lac Seul, Kenora (CaE).

Nymphalis antiopa hyperborea NORTHERN MOURNING CLOAK

In 2015 – 735 records. I think that it is best to refer to all Mourning Cloaks, except for those specifically identified as subspecies lintnerii, as the northern subspecies hyperborea, so I will do so here. This year there were 86 identified as hyperborea and 649 where the observer just said “Mourning Cloak”. The earliest report was on March 30, one “flushed while sunning itself on a fallen tree” near the Visitor Centre at Ojibway Prairie, Essex (IW); the second was on April 2, three seen on the McCarthy Trail in Bellamy Ravine, Metro-Toronto (JeHa, BH). There were ten records from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from June 11, one on the Mizzy Lake Trail (JaRi), to September 20, a fresh one photographed on the old railbed off Arrowhon Road (BAM); highest count was 2. There were 41 reports from the north, of which 31 were from Algoma, starting with three reports on April 29 from different areas on ATV trails north of Elliot Lake (TRa), and one on May 8 from the Elliot

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Lake Campground on Hwy 108 (TRa). The highest count was five, on September 22, on Carpenter Lake Road north of Thessalon (MOli). In these records the three generations show up nicely: the overwintered ones from April 29 to June 17, the mid-summer generation from July 1 to 18, and the second generation from August 6 to October 2. There were five reports from Rainy River, all singles, April 15 to October 11, four from Sudbury, all singles, April 12 to August 28, and one from Thunder Bay one seen on July 9 at Kenwell (AlH).

There were four reports of nectaring, on Joe-Pye-Weed (JBar), on Common Milkweed (LJ, RT) and on Garlic Mustard (LMN). There were three reports of feeding on sap, from buds (PMC, BK), from Sapsucker drill holes (RHC) and from a Manitoba Maple (CH). There was also a report of two “puddling” on horse droppings, on April 12 at the Vanderwater CA, Hastings (JBar, JaK). On April 15, west of McCarthy Road, Ottawa, RTY reported two “in dancing flight to top of 60 foot deciduous trees” and on April 29 in the same place, one “in a dancing flight with a Henry’s Elfin”. On July 23 at the University of Toronto, near the Davis Building, Mississauga, SCh photographed one “ovipositing on adventitious willow shoots around a nearby tree, on underside of leaves”. There were eight reports of larvae, and one of a pupa, but only one mentioned the foodplant: on August 8 at the Jackpine Trail, Bells Corners, Ottawa, RAL found an estimated 3-400 fourth-instar larvae well on the way to defoliating a Pussy Willow. He took a few to rear, and most emerged September 6 to 9, with one straggler coming out late on the 18th. On October 19 MiLe found one at the Macoun Swamp, Ottawa, asleep on the underside of a large flat rock, “ready for the snow!” Repeat visits on October 25 and November 16 found it still in the same place. Numbers were low with just ten counts of ten or more. The highest were two counts of 17, on April 14 at High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY) and on May 1 on bike trails at the Stony Swamp, Bells Corners (RCa). The latest date was that of the hibernating one at the Macoun Swamp. The latest records of non-hibernating Mourning Cloaks were singles seen on November 5 on Boileau Road, Larose Forest, Prescott-Russell (CH) and on November 7 at Humbercrest Boulevard, Metro-Toronto (VCa).

Nymphalis antiopa lintnerii LINTNER’S MOURNING CLOAK

In 2015 - 29 records, the earliest one photographed on April 2 in the Bellamy Ravine, Metro-Toronto (WF), a perfect picture of a butterfly so dark it is almost black. The second record was one photographed on April 12 on the trail beside the Interpretive Centre at Foley Mountain CA, Leeds- Grenville (PMC, BK). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and just one from the north, one photographed on September 15 on P Line Road on St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma (MOli).

On May 30, near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, RAL saw one which “flew around me several times. Very dark, almost black and white, must be a hibernator”. On April 14 and again on May 24, near Tweed, Hastings, JBar saw individuals in which the colour had faded and the wing edges were torn, obviously overwintered specimens. And on July 10 west of Tweed he saw one in good condition, except that one hind wing was damaged, “puddling” at apparently dry gravel on a trail. The latest records were on September 20 in Bruce, four photographed on Sideroad J/I between Con. 6 and Con. 8, and one between Con. 8 and Con. 10 (LMN).

Aglais milberti MILBERT’S TORTOISESHELL

In 2015 - 124 records, starting with one seen on March 20 at Woodstock, Oxford (JaHo) and one

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______seen on April 6 at Fairnorth Farm, Norfolk (KaB). There were no reports from Algonquin PP and twenty from the north. There were ten reports from Rainy River from April 9 to August 31 (MSD, DHE) and five from Kenora from July 3 to 17, all singles, including one at the Griffith’s Farm near Oxdrift (CaE). There were three records from Thunder Bay, all singles, from July 1 to August 3, the first and the last from Hwy 593 south of the Arrow River in Devon Twp. (TeAr) and one from Sudbury, one photographed on April 26 near Lively (CBl). There were two reports of nectaring, on Dandelion (PaT) and on an ornamental (BVR). On June 13 BVR saw one ovipositing on nettle, at Cedar Haven Farm, Hamilton-Wentworth, and on May 16, GR found about 200 larvae, on Trowbridge Road 169 at Line 81, Perth. On May 10 RDo showed RAL a nest of 1st or 2nd instar larvae, on Stinging Nettle, at the OPG Powerdam fields, near Cornwall, Stormont-Dundas- Glengarry; RAL collected it and reared the larvae, the first ones emerging on May 31, the last on June 6, ninety in all. On May 26 RDo found and photographed a pupa, at the same place. RDo saw adults twice more at that site, three on June 6 and two on June 16, and nothing later, very different from 2014 when he saw large numbers throughout September. Numbers were very low everywhere, with just four reports of more than ten: eleven on June 16 on the Cliffs and Alvars Trail at rare, Waterloo (TSk); eleven on August 23 and twelve on September 14 at Fairnorth Farm, Norfolk (KaB), and about twelve seen, some photographed, on August 24 at the Royal Botanical Garden, Hamilton-Wentworth (PaT). On October 3 a very worn one flew into a house in Rockcliffe, Ottawa, perhaps looking for a hibernation spot? On October 20, PH saw a very late one on Wendover Avenue, Ottawa, and on the same day KaB saw one at Fairnorth Farm. The two latest records were also from Fairnorth Farm, on November 3 and 4, singles both times (KaB).

Inachis io EUROPEAN PEACOCK

In 2015 - no records, seen only once in Ontario, near Harriston (Minto), Wellington in 2014; see page 81 in Ontario Lepidoptera 2014 for a discussion about the likelihood of it having arrived under its own volition.

Vanessa virginiensis AMERICAN LADY

In 2015 - 465 records. The first reports of this migrant species were at East Point Park, Metro- Toronto, on April 14 and 18, singles each time (JeHa, BH), and they spread throughout Ontario very quickly. They were reported in Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland on May 6 (KAn), Fifth Line Road, Ottawa on the 12th (CGa), and Smoke Lake, Algonquin PP, Nipissing on the 14th (JaRi). They also reached St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma on the 14th (MOli) and Dinorwic Lake, Kenora on the 16th (ERi), but these surely involved different migrant streams. There were 150 reports from the north, 117 of them from Algoma, May 14 to September 28, highest count 13 on September 26 between the Hub Trail and City Hall, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were 18 reports from Rainy River, May 23 to September 3 (MSD, DHE) and five from Sudbury, June 11 to September 27, all from the Killarney area except the latest, one in good condition photographed in the Botanical Garden at Bell Park, Sudbury (CBl). There were three records from Kenora, the latest one photographed on August 8 at Taggart Lake (SFe) and three late ones from Manitoulin, the earliest two photographed on July 25 at Misery Bay (TRa, CBe, AdBe). There were also three records from Thunder Bay, including two early ones, one photographed on May 10 at Lakehead Archers (TeAr) and at least ten fresh ones seen on May 13 on the railroad tracks east of Marathon (NGE). The longest distance travelled, by far, was by one seen on August 12 at Longridge Pont, Cochrane, on the shores of James Bay (ChF,

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

BNC). There were eight reports of nectaring, on Alfalfa (LJ) and on Brown Knapweed, Brown-eyed Susan, Dandelion, Cow Vetch, New England Aster and goldenrod (RT, HTh). There were three reports of larvae, one photographed on June 8 on Pussytoes at Paradise Grove, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara (DKa), one photographed on Pearly Everlasting on September 27 on West Quarterline Road, Norfolk (JSi), and 300 seen, some photographed at Beau’s Butterfly Garden, Waterloo (TBe). And there were two reports of eggs, on May 8 and 29 in Listowel, Perth (GR). Numbers were very low, with more than half the reports of just a solitary individual. There were seven counts of more than ten, the two highest from Point Pelee NP, Essex, about thirty on May 8 and about twenty on May 9 (JCa). The latest three dates were in October: two photographed on the 7th at Joseph Gibbons Public School in Halton Hills, Halton (JuPo), a worn one seen on Buddleia on the 15th at High Park, Metro-Toronto (RJY), and one photographed on the 18th in a garden on Bishop Street, Kingston, Frontenac (JPo).

Vanessa cardui PAINTED LADY

In 2015 - 54 records, starting with a very early one on April 15, one seen on New Street, Burlington, Halton (RHC). The next record was one seen on May 8 at Rondeau PP, Kent (LBe), the first of nine in May, a very meager migration. There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, a very worn specimen seen on June 13 on the Cameron Lake Road (LF). There were three reports from the north: a very worn one photographed on October 19 at the north end of Lake Dinorwic, Kenora (ERi), one seen on July 14 on Hill Street, Thunder Bay (AlH) and one photographed laying an egg on May 26 on ATV trails north of Elliot Lake, Algoma (CBe, ABe). On September 17 one was seen at Westmount, Tillsonburg, Oxford, the first record for Oxford (CiCr). There was one report of nectaring, on Dandelion on May 21 at Fallowfield, Ottawa (LJ) and one report of two, along with other species, on Joe-Pye-Weed in a ditch beside Wilson Road, Niagara (RCa). JPar reported that on May 12 she saw a female laying eggs on newly-potted plants of Licorice in her yard, at Port Hope, Northumberland, and on July 7 LMa found a larva at the Windermere Basin, Hamilton-Wentworth. Almost all records were of singles until late summer, and the highest seven counts were all from Essex, finishing with three counts of eight, at Harrow on October 11 and 20 (JL) and at Leamington on October 22 (GRT) and one estimate of 15 fresh ones on September 16 at Seacliffe (RJY, KRY). The three latest records were in November, on the 1st and 7th at Harrow, Essex (JL), and on the 9th at Columbia Lake, Waterloo (FGi).

Vanessa atalanta RED ADMIRAL

In 2015 - 1,222 records. The earliest reports were of singles seen on April 12 at West Lorne, Elgin (CLe) and on the 13th at Stoney Creek, Hamilton-Wentworth (BHo), the start of a very early migration that saw 17 records in April and 147 by mid-May, mostly singles but there were three counts of more than thirty, all in Essex. Or those earliest records could have been from overwintered individuals; on April 16 RAL saw a faded one near his woodpile, near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, more than three weeks before the wave of migrants reached Ottawa, producing four records on May 9 (CH, CS, LJ, PH) and many in the following week. On May 9 they also reached Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma (MOli), and the lack of records between Ottawa and there makes it very likely that these arrived by a different route, via Michigan. There were nine reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing from May 24 to September 11, highest count three on May 24 at Hwy 60 at Smoke Lake (JaRi). There were 103 reports from the north. There were 46 from Algoma, May 9 to August 30, and 22

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______from Rainy River, May 7 to October 1, in both cases mostly singles. There were twelve records from Thunder Bay, May 13 to August 8, including two seen on August 8 on Caribou Island, a mile offshore in Lake Superior (SB). There were eight reports from Cochrane, August 1 to 12, all at Longridge Point on James Bay, with four seen on two occasions (ChF, BNC), six reports from Kenora, five from Sudbury, and four from Manitoulin. On May 20 one was seen at Shelburne, Dufferin, the first record for that county, making it the last county to record the species (FGi). And in 2015 there were records from every one of those southern counties; only Timiskaming, in the north, was missed!

There were 29 reports of feeding, mostly on a wide variety of flowers but also on tree sap, at Tweed, Hastings on June 11 and July 3 (JBar), “in a tree bark hole made by an emerging grub” at Greenock Swamp, Bruce, on May 18 (LMN), and two very worn ones on a small damaged branch of a large Weeping Willow, along with Northern Pearly-eyes, sometimes literally bumping heads with them, near Fitzroy Harbour on July 4 and 11 (RAL). There were eight reports of eggs, twelve of larvae and one of a pupa. On May 18 in Leamington, Essex, GRT reported at least thirty larvae in leaf-nests, sometimes two to a nest, maximum size about eight millimeters. NGE, at Alice Avenue, Thunder Bay, had five larvae pupate on July 6 and 7, and they produced adults on July 14 and 17. On June 17 near Fitzroy Harbour RAL found many large larvae and at least 200 stems of Stinging Nettle with multiple rolled-leaf nests, in just part of a large nettle patch. But there was no large increase in the numbers of Red Admirals in the weeks following this; there must have been some serious problem with either disease or parasites. And this was probably not confined to Ottawa; out of this huge number of reports, there were 686 of singles, and only fifty of ten or more. The highest numbers were 104 on July 11 in the Lower Don Butterfly Count Sector, Metro-Toronto (GrS, KSe), and 111, counted on July 8 during a Park Count at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (PPP), and it should be noted that these counts covered a much larger area than most reports. The highest numbers in more typically-defined areas were 51 on May 18 in Leamington, on development land for a new high school (GRT) and 44 on July 30 at Toronto Islands (RJY, KRY). The season ended with just eleven reports after October 1. The latest were one seen on November 16 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP, Essex (AW) and one photographed on November 25 at Rondeau PP, Kent (RMa).

Junonia coenia COMMON BUCKEYE

In 2015 - 42 records, all of them late summer migrants, almost all from Essex and Kent. The first was on August 17, one seen at Mount Nemo Escarpment Woods, near Lowville, Halton (BVR), and the second one photographed on August 21 on a boat ramp at the Sydenham River on the Mosside Line north of Shetland, Lambton (BER). The northernmost were two seen on September six on a hydroline south of Mountjoy Road, east of Quarterline, Durham, in a mesic meadow with Gerardia growing nearby (JK). There were no reports of feeding or immatures. The five highest numbers were from the far southwest, two from Leamington, Essex, 12 on October 11 (RJY, KRY) and 19 on October 25 (GRT), and three from West Beach at Point Pelee, Essex, 16 on September 15 and 12 on October 11 (RJY, KRY) and 24 on November 2 (AW). The two latest reports are also from West Beach: four seen on November 16 and two on the 25th (AW).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Limenitis arthemis arthemis WHITE ADMIRAL

In 2015 - 731 records, starting with one seen on May 24 on the K & P Trail between Flower Station and the Lanark County border, Frontenac (DaE, JoH) and followed by three seen on June 2 on Hubble Road, Peterborough (JB). There were 15 reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, from June 13 to August 19, and there were also ten reports from further north in Nipissing. There were 181 reports from the north, 92 of them from Algoma between June 11 and July 24, the first generation, and August 7 to September 15, the second generation; the highest count was 15, on August 15 at Bridgeland Road in Rose Twp. (MOli). There were 45 reports from Rainy River, June 13 to July 20 and August 2 to September 2 (MSD, DHE). There were 15 reports from Thunder Bay, June 17 to August 9, and a surprising 13 from Cochrane. These were one report on July 10 from Hwy 11 west of Hearst (LBe), two from Longridge Point on August 1 and 2 (ChF, BNC), two from Little Piskwamish Point on August 16 and 18 (DMcR, MKP), and eight from Northbluff Point from August 14 to 27 (RWo, SSu). There were also eight reports from Kenora, five from Sudbury and three from Manitoulin. There were ten reports of nectaring, on Spreading Dogbane and Common Milkweed (JBar), on Swamp Milkweed, goldenrod, Queen Anne’s Lace and poison parsnip (RT, HTh) and on a flowering Sumac (RAL). They were also reported “puddling” on dry sand, on wet mud, and twice on fecal matter, on the TransCanada Trail near Tweed, Hastings (JBar). The highest counts were 98 on June 16 on Sandy Lake Road, Peterborough (JB) and forty on June 29 at Head Creek, Algonquin PP (RMa). The season closed with 13 reports in September, the latest one photographed on the 15th on Hamilton Road, St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma (MOli), and one seen on the 16th on Cedarwood Drive, Peterborough (JB).

Limenitis arthemis astyanax RED-SPOTTED PURPLE

In 2015 - 173 records. The earliest were two records on May 27, one seen at Valens CA, Hamilton- Wentworth (BVR), the other one photographed at Riverside Park, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). There was one record from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on June 29 at Head Creek (RMa) and three from the north. On July 2 MOli photographed one at Dunlevie Point, southeast of Desbarats, the first record for Algoma, and on August 27 he photographed the second for the county on Fort Road in Jocelyne Twp., on St. Joseph’s Island. The other northern record was one photographed on July 25 at Misery Bay PP, Manitoulin (TRa, CBe, AdBe). There were just two reports of nectaring, on August 22 on Buddleia at Port Ryerse, Norfolk (CWo, SW) and at Joe-Pye-Weed on August 28 on Wilson Road, Port Colborne, Niagara (RCa), and one feeding on dung, on May 29 at Rattlesnake Point, Halton (BVR). Most reports were of singles, with just five reports of more than ten. The two highest were on the Cliffs and Alvars Trail at rare, Waterloo: 11 seen on June 16 and 13 on June 11 (TSk); there were three higher numbers but all were from very vaguely-defined large areas, rather than normally-defined localities. There were clearly two generations, but with no gap in the records, nor any comments of fresh or worn, it is impossible to define dates for them. The latest records were on August 29, one seen on the Miller Road extension at Port Colborne (RCa) and one seen on September 3 at the Dumfries CA on Dunbar Road, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe).

Limenitis archippus VICEROY

In 2015 - 482 records, starting with three on May 26, one seen at South Field/Sparrow Field at rare, Waterloo (TSk), one seen on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and County Road 38,

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Peterborough (TB, JB), and one seen on Mt. Julien Viamede Road at Hwy 28, Peterborough (LBe). There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, two seen on June 13 on Barron Canyon Road (BER). There were 28 reports from the north, 17 of them from Algoma, first generation adults from June 19 to July 16, the second from August 23 to September 13, highest count four, on June 19 (MOli). There were four reports from Rainy River, June 13 to August 13 and three from Cochrane, singles at Longridge Point on August 2 (ChF, BNC) and on August 13 (JI, RWo), and two seen at Little Piskwamish Point on August 16 (DMcR, MKP). There were two reports from Sudbury, including several seen nectaring on goldenrod on August 19 at Kelly Lake (CBl), three seen on August 3 at the Little Current Lagoon, Manitoulin (CBl) and two seen on July 8 in the Geraldton area, Thunder Bay (AlH). There were five reports of nectaring, on Wild Bergamot, Staghorn Sumac and Canada Goldenrod, at Tweed, Hastings (JBar) and on Canada Thistle in a gravel pit on March Road, Ottawa (RT, JMcL). There were three reports of females ovipositing, on a poplar sapling and an aspen sapling (BVR) and on small poplar shoots (DaE, JoH). There was one report of a pupa, found on June 16 on Bay Street at St. Mary’s River, Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma (MOli), and eleven reports of larvae. GR twice found tiny overwintered larvae in Listowel, Perth, two on March 19 in the new marsh, and fifteen on April 4 in the field at Zehr’s Plaza. On May 17 TRa found two small larvae “sitting on winter shelter on willow”, and on May 23 saw those two again plus two more, on the old Road Trail in MacGregor Point PP, Bruce. JBar, reporting from Tweed, found a 50 mm larvae feeding on Quaking Aspen on June 1, a 25 mm larva on Pussy Willow, on July 29, and on the same day a fifth instar larva feeding on Peachleaf Willow; this last one was reared and produced an adult on August 4. And on June 26 at Kingston, Frontenac XW found four larvae on Peachleaf Willow and reared them to confirm the identity. On August 13 RAL saw a pair flying in copula, on Breezy Hill Road, Ottawa, and on August 9 on Pelee Island, Essex, RJY and KRY saw eight adults and “for a minute or so along Ruggles Run, I watched a male Viceroy try unsuccessfully to mate with a female Red-spotted Purple which finally flew off”. There were just six records of ten or more, the highest fifteen at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland on August 16 (KAn) and on August 27 (LBe, MaTo), and 22 on August 30 at Heber Down CA, Durham (RJY, KRY). The latest dates were September 27, two seen on the Kraus property on Mersea Road 7, Essex (JLH) and October 1, one seen on the bike trails at Stony Swamp, Bells Corners, Ottawa (RCa).

Limenitis weidemeyerii WEIDEMEYER’S ADMIRAL

In 2015 - no records, just one report previously, in 1960 at Rainy River.

Asterocampa celtis HACKBERRY EMPEROR

In 2014 - 28 records. The first reports were of one photographed on June 21 at Point Pelee NP, Essex, and a sight record, no number given, on June 22 at Skunk’s Misery, Middlesex (BAM). These were followed on June 27 and 28 by seven records from the Tweed area, Hastings (JBar). There were no reports of nectaring but on June 28 one was reported on the Trans-Canada Trail near Tweed, perched and feeding on dog feces. There were nine reports from Essex and 14 from Hastings ranging in date from June 27 to August 2, almost all at Tweed (JBar). One was photographed on June 28 at Forest Mills, Lennox and Addington (DaE, JoH) and two on July 12 at Petrie Island, Ottawa (RCa). The highest counts were of five worn ones on August 1 and twelve on September 4, both at Point Pelee NP, Essex (RJY, KRY). The latest records were both from West Beach, Point Pelee NP, two photographed on September 19 (RCa) and one seen on September 20 (RJY, KRY).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

In 2015 - 36 records, 24 of them from near Tweed, Hastings, 23 of these from JBar, including the earliest 14 records. The earliest record was of one which was caught on June 18, studied, photographed and released. This was in an area of “gneiss outcrops with shallow pockets of soil bordering the trans-Canada Trail”, east of Tweed. The next was on the following day, one photographed with one hindwing damaged but in otherwise good condition, again on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed, but in a “marsh supporting cattails and sedges”. The first reports from anywhere but Hastings were photographic records from Point Pelee NP, Essex, one on July 4 (MiQ) and seven on July 5 (LBe). On July 12 one was photographed on Buttermilk Falls Road, Forest Mills, Lennox & Addington (BER), on July 25 one was seen on Briscoe Street East, London, Middlesex (LuF), and on August 22 one was seen at Moore WMA, Lambton (BAM). There were three records from Petrie Island, Ottawa, at least one each day on July 15 and 16 (BBo) and a worn one seen on August 2 (GM). The highest number reported was ten, but this was from the entire southern half of Pelee Island, Essex (RJY, KRY). The highest number from a regularly defined site was the seven mentioned above. The latest record from Hastings was a female caught on September 10 east of Tweed near the junction of Lajoie Road and the TransCanada Trail; it was studied, photographed, and released, demonstrating an extremely long flight season there. The latest records were from the West Beach at Point Pelee NP, three or four worn males seen on September 15 (RJY, KRY) and one seen on September 27 (JLH).

Asterocampa clyton TAWNY EMPEROR

In 2015 - 26 records, starting with five seen on July 5 at Dogwood Road, Wardsville, Middlesex (DPy). The next eight reports, from July 16 to 29, were from rare, Waterloo, starting with two on the 16th at the Thompson Tract (TSk), one photographed on the 22nd (JuRe) and three, also on the 22nd, photographed at rare Admin. (RCa). Most reports were from Waterloo, and Essex, where the earliest was on August 7 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP. There was another record from Middlesex, one seen August 3 on Sassafras Road in Skunks Misery (RP). There were three records from Lambton: one seen on August 3 on Limerick Road, Newbury (RP), one photographed on August 21 at Mosside Line, north of Shetland (BER) and one photographed on August 22 at Moore WMA (BAM). On August 5 one was photographed on Toronto Island, Metro-Toronto (SuP). And on September 10 there was a report from Halton of an estimated 150 larvae at Rattlesnake Point CA, north of Derry Road, the only report of larvae (BVR). There was a report of eight seen on August 7, in the eastern half of Pelee Island, Essex (RJY, KRY), but since that description covers such a large area it is not a comparable count. Other than that, the highest count was the five at Wardsville. The latest records of adults were on August 23, three seen on the West Beach Footpath at Point Pelee (BER) and on August 27, one photographed at Dumfries CA, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe).

Lethe anthedon NORTHERN PEARLY-EYE

In 2015 - 444 records, the earliest two seen on June 3, somewhere on the Hwy 60 corridor in Algonquin PP, Nipissing (LBe), and one photographed on June 9 at Dumfries CA at Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). There were eight reports from Algonquin PP, June 3 to July 11, all singles except the first one. There were 27 reports from Algoma, June 28 to August 13, highest count 17 on July 12 in the Hub Trail and Black Road area, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were 21 reports from Rainy River, June 16 to August 10, almost all at Devlin, all but one of them singles (MSD). There were six

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______reports from Kenora, all singles, the northernmost one photographed on July 10 at the mouth of Turkey Creek on MacKenzie Bay, Lac Seul (CaE); five from Thunder Bay, the highest count of six seen on July 14 at William’s Bog (AlH); and four from Sudbury, all singles, including one seen on July 11 at the Old Quarry at Killarney, during the Killarney PP Count (FGi). In the south there were a very large number of records, 67 in all, at or near rare, Waterloo, from June 9 to July 26 (JuRe, TSk). There were no reports of nectaring, nor mud-puddling. On July 15 JBar observed at least twelve, including a mated pair, by the TransCanada Trail west of Tweed, Hastings. On June 27 MOl saw a group of four, at Timm Drive and Haanel Drive, near Bells Corners, Ottawa, all in a bunch in a small willow shrub. On July 3 JBar saw one near Tweed imbibing tree sap. Every day from July 5 to July 25, at his home near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, RAL observed groups, as many as fifteen, too tightly grouped to count more, feeding at a small branch on a very large Weeping Willow, often in the company of other species, Eastern Comma, Gray Comma, Red Admiral, Little Wood Satyr and Appalachian Brown. At least one time, June 20, the feeding continued until at least 10 pm, in pitch darkness, and the next morning it had started again by 6.01 am. This all ended abruptly on July 26; the well ran dry! There were forty counts of ten or more, the highest three reports of 29, all at rare, Waterloo: on June 17 and 29 (TSk) and on July 1 (JuRe). Most of the latest dates were from the north, August 8, 10 and 13 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, (MOli). There was one late sighting on August 10 at Fort Frances, Rainy River (MSD), but the latest record of all was one seen on August 15 at Sauer’s Mountain, Renfrew (RCa).

Lethe eurydice EYED BROWN

In 2015 - 240 records, the earliest on the west trails in Conestoga Marsh, Wellington, six seen on June 10 and nine on June 13 (GR). These were followed on June 14 by one seen on Elmbrook Road, Prince Edward (JD) and one photographed on the 15th at Riverside Park, Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). There were two reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one photographed on July 12 on Opeongo Lake Road (MLy) and one seen on July 13 at the Opeongo Access Point (DSh). There were just six reports from the north: four from Rainy River, July 13 to 27, highest count two on July 27 at the Wilson Creek area of Dawson Twp. (DHE, MSD), one from Algoma, eleven seen, some photographed on July 18 on Old Goulais Bay Road north of Sixth Line in Pennfeather Twp. (MOli) and one from Timiskaming, one seen on July 9 at Latchford (LBe), the first record for Timiskaming. There were just two reports of nectaring and absolutely no other notes of behavior. On July 4 LJ and MJe counted at least twenty, some nectaring on Common Milkweed in a marsh on the TransCanada Trail south of Robertson Road, Bells Corners, Ottawa. And on July 20, in the same place, LJ saw three, and caught and released “one very old, faded, with torn wings, nectaring on Swamp Milkweed”. There were 55 counts of ten or more, the highest 38 on August 8 on County Road 13 north of Babylon Road, Prince Edward (PMC, BK) and 69 on July 8 in a Park Count at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (PPP). The latest reports were the one on Babylon Road, mentioned above, two seen on August 16 at Prequ’ile PP (KAn), one seen on August 17 at Depot Creek Nature Reserve, Frontenac (BER) and one seen on September 7 on a hydrocut east of County Road 1, Bruce (LMN).

Lethe appalachia APPALACHIAN BROWN

In 2015 - 73 records, the earliest one photographed on June 17 at the Menzel Centennial Nature Reserve, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), followed by three reports on June 20: one seen at the Lowe Road extension, south of Manion Corners, Ottawa (MOl), one photographed between

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Sideroad 20 at Con. 10 and Country Road 15, Bruce (LMN), and one photographed at rare, Waterloo (PDe). There were no reports from Algonquin PP, and two from the north: one photographed on July 13 on trails and gravel roads on the west side of South Baymouth, Manitoulin (TRa), and one seen on July 11 at the Old Store at Killarney, Sudbury, during the Killarney PP Count (FGi), the first record for Sudbury. On seven occasions between July 18 and July 25, near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, a single specimen was seen feeding on a small branch of a very large Weeping Willow, always with greater numbers of Northern Pearly-eyes, and sometimes with singletons of other species. On July 18 one was “acting agressively toward an anthedon, pushing it around to a different area near the feeding spot in the Weeping Willow” (RAL). Counts were low with just four reports of more than ten. At Menzel Centennial Nature Reserve eleven were seen on July 20 and 15 on July 10 (DaE, JoH); at Reveler CA, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry 14 were seen on July 31 (CH); and at the Reid CA, Lambton, thirty were seen on June 29 (RHC). The latest records were on August 11, one photographed at the Dumfries CA at Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe); on August 13, two photographed, one worn but the other fresh-looking, at Menzel Centennia NR (DaE, JoH); and on August 29, two photographed on the Miller Road extension at Port Colborne, Niagara (RCa).

Megisto cymela LITTLE WOOD-SATYR

In 2015 - 649 records. The earliest record was one seen on May 22 on the Deer Run Trail in McGregor PP, Bruce (TRa). On May 23 there were two records along the Moira River at Tweed, Hastings, one seen near Collins Point and one near the Louisa Street Bridge (JBar). And there were three on May 24, one seen in Hastings (TB, JB, BPr), one on the TransCanada Trail east of Tweed (JBar) and one on Wolf Grove Road, southwest of Almonte, Lanark (DA). There were six reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, June 13 to July 2, highest count 16 on June 19 at Mew Lake (KeMo). There were 32 reports from the north, 14 from Algoma from June 16 to July 13, highest count ten on June 24 on the Great Northern Road between the 4th and 6th Lines, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were 13 reports from Rainy River, all of them at Devlin between June 11 and July 13, highest count three on June 21 (MSD). There were two reports from Kenora on June 11 at Rushing River PP, one seen at the eastern end of the campground, and another at the highway end of the Lower Rapids Trail (TRa); two from Sudbury, four seen on June 9 on an old rail line off Crean Hill Road, 3.5 km north of Denlou (JK), and one seen on July 11 at the Old Quarry, Killarney (FGi); and one from Manitoulin, two seen on July 13 west of South Baymouth (TRa). On June 2 JBar saw at least ten, and commented that they “preferred the shade under the Staghorn Sumacs”; this was on the TransCanada Trail west of Tweed. On June 6, near Wolfe Lake, Leeds-Grenville, RT photographed one nectaring on Red Clover, the only report of nectaring. RAL twice saw one feeding in a large Weeping Willow, near Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa: on July 4 “head to head with an anthedon and an appalachia, at sap in Weeping Willow. Still at it at 5.40 pm”, and on July 14 “4.30 pm, feeding at Weeping Willow with anthedon and comma”. This species had much better numbers than most others, with 170 reports of ten or more. Six of the highest seven counts were by RJY in Metro- Toronto, at High Park, Eglinton Flats and Lambton Prairie; the highest were 411 on June 11 at Eglinton Flats (RJY) and about 775 on June 20 at the Spring Garden ANSI at Windsor, Essex (RJY, KRY). The ten latest reports, from July 26 on were all from Cambridge, Waterloo, either at rare or at Dumfries CA (JuRe, TSk). Apart from these the latest was one photographed on July 26 at the Burntlands PP, Ottawa (DRy). The latest at Cambridge were one photographed on August 11 at Dumfries CA and one photographed on August 16 at the ECOCentre at rare (JuRe).

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Coenonympha tullia COMMON RINGLET

In 2015 - 761 records. The first two reports were from Tweed, Hastings, one seen on May 21 on the TransCanada Trail west of town, and one on the 22nd at a patch of wildflowers on Lakeview Lane (JBar). This was followed by four reports on the 24th: one seen on Elmbrook Road, Prince Edward (JD), one in Hastings (TB, JB, BPr), one on NCC land off Parkhaven Street, Ottawa (ASh) and three seen on the railtrail between the Cameron Line and County Road 38, Peterborough (LBe). There was one report from Algonquin PP, Nipissing, eight seen on June 19 at Mew Lake (KeMo). There were 46 reports from the north, 32 of them from Algoma between June 8 and July 14, highest count 16 on June 24 at Hwy 17 and Black Road, at the eastern City Limits of Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were seven reports from Thunder Bay, June 25 to July17 (AlH), four reports from Devlin, Rainy River, June 17 to July 13 (MSD) and three from Cochrane, including a sighting on August 2 at Longridge Point (ChF, BNC) and three seen on July 10 on Hwy 11 at the Nagagami River (LBe). At the other end of the province there was just one report from Essex, one seen on August 4 on the lakeshore at Belle River (PDe), one from Kent, one seen on August 3 at the Blenheim Lagoons (RP) and one from Elgin, one seen on August 9 near Kintyre (DPy). In southern counties with many records, it is possible to see the gap in records between the two generations: in Waterloo from July 4 to 26, in Peterborough from July 2 to August 13, and in Ottawa from June 30 to July 31. There was no such gap in the Algoma records, and they ended much earlier; clearly the second generation does not occur that far north. There were 17 reports of nectaring, mostly by RT in Leeds-Grenville and Ottawa, on Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Blackberry, Red Hawkweed, Yarrow, Tall White Aster and goldenrod. This is another species which had good numbers, with 152 records of ten or more. The highest counts were at least 150 on June 6 at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland (KAn) and 110 on August 19 at the Dance Nature Sanctuary, Peterborough (LBe, MaP, MaTo). There were four late reports on September 18, from Waterloo, Hamilton-Wentworth, Prince Edward and Ottawa, then one on September 20, two seen on the Maple Lane Trail and Langdon Road in rare, Waterloo (JuRe) And then one incredibly late record, by a very experienced observer: one photographed on November 16 at the University of Toronto in Mississauga, Peel, “birding at north end of stormwater pond when I noticed a ringlet flying around on the lawn!” (RMa).

Cercyonis pegala COMMON WOOD-NYMPH

In 2015 - 560 records, the earliest one seen on June 22 in the airfield area of Bayfield Park, Halton (BVR). This was followed by two reports on the 24th, four seen at Lambton Prairie, Metro-Toronto (RJY) and two photographed at the Dumfries CA at Cambridge, Waterloo (JuRe). There were no reports from Algonquin PP and 45 from the north. There were 21 reports from Algoma, July 8 to August 23, highest count seven on August 3, on McNabb Avenue, east of Black Road, Sault Ste. Marie (MOli). There were 17 reports from Rainy River, July 16 to August 8, the highest count of 18 on July 27, in the Wilson Creek area of Dawson Twp. (DHE, MSD). There were five reports from Kenora, all singles, all photographed, including one on July 16 at Vermilion Bay (JVK) and one on July 20 at the Minnitaki Marsh (CaE), one from Sudbury, one seen on July 11 at the Old Quarry at Killarney, during the Killarney PP Count (FGi) and one from Thunder Bay, one seen on July 19 on Alice Avenue (NGE). There were just two reports of nectaring, both at Reveler CA, Stormont- Dundas-Glengarry: on July 24, one photographed on Red Clover (RT, HTh), and on July 30 one photographed (by JMcL) on Canada Thistles (RT, JMcL). On August 1 JBar saw eight west of Tweed, Hastings, and commented that two were very faded and worn, the first such comment, and

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______within two weeks many reports mentioned worn or very worn specimens. There were 111 counts of ten or more, and three of more than 100: 105 on July 8 at Presqu’ile PP, Northumberland, during a Park Count (PPP); 110 on July 12 in the Rogers Tract in Scugog Twp., Durham, during the Oshawa Butterfly Count (JK, LKa), and 120, also on July 12 in the Oshawa Count, on the west side of Lakeridge Road, north of Houston Road in Uxbridge Twp., Durham (JoF, MPr). Three of the six latest reports were from rare, Waterloo, and are supported by photographs, one on August 31, two on September 1 and one on September 4 (JuRe). The other late ones were one seen on the hydroline west of Moodie Drive, south of Bells Corners, Ottawa (ASh), one seen on September 4 at Sheffield CA, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH), and the very latest, one seen about 10 km south of Tobermory, Bruce (TRa).

Erebia mancinus TAIGA ALPINE

In 2015 - three reports, on June 8 and 9 (no number mentioned) seen at Jim Lake Road, Atikokan, Rainy River (DHE), and on June 17 three seen in the Geraldton area, Thunder Bay (AlH).

Erebia discoidalis RED-DISKED ALPINE

In 2015 - one record. On May 20 at Lisa Lane, at the north end of Lake Dinorwic, Kenora, ERi photographed a pair in copula; see story on page 19.

Oeneis macounii MACOUN’S ARCTIC

In 2015 – no records in an odd-numbered year, last reported in 2014 in Algonquin PP, Nipissing.

Oeneis chryxus CHRYXUS ARCTIC

In 2015 - 11 records, in every one of them some were photographed. The earliest were two reports on May 6, five in the Sandy Lake area, Peterborough (RJY, KRY, AIr) and one on the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, Lennox & Addington (DaE, JoH). The next report on May 7 was of six on Sandy Lake Road (TB, LBe) and there was another report of two on May 17 in the same place (JB). There were two more reports from the Ontario Hydro road southwest of Cloyne, 18 seen on May 14, the highest count, and one on May 29, the latest record (DaE, JoH). There were two reports from Rock Dunder, Leeds-Grenville, one on May 14 (JPo, MCS) and four on May 17 (BER). On May 24 one was reported from the south side of the west arm of Riley Lake, Muskoka (EP), and there were two reports from Algoma, on May 21 and May 24, one specimen each time, on Shaw Road in the area where the road crosses under power lines twice (MOli); these were the first records for Algoma. For the first time in many years there were no reports from the Carp Ridge, Ottawa, although at least five people visited the site in search of it; numbers have been declining in the last few years.

Oeneis jutta JUTTA ARCTIC

In 2015 - five records, four of them at the Mer Bleue, Ottawa: one seen on May 13 and three photographed on May 18 (PH), four photographed on May 19 from the Boardwalk in the Arctic Cottongrass area (RT) and two photographed from the Boardwalk on May 24 (RCa, DRy). The last

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______record was of six photographed on June 4 in Blue Lake PP, Kenora (MSD).

Oeneis melissa MELISSA ARCTIC

In 2015 - no reports, last reported in 2014 in the extreme northwest corner of Kenora.

Danaus plexippus MONARCH

In 2015 - 1,329 records, starting with sightings on May 12 and 13 at Kingston Road and Meadowvale in Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (BH). There was no orderly northward progression of reports; before the first record in Essex there were observations in Ottawa, one photographed on May 29 at the Bruce Pit, Bells Corners (ChB); in Algoma, one photographed on May 28 on Hwy 148 in the Gordon Road area on St. Joseph’s Island (MOli); in Manitoulin, one photographed on May 31 on Hwy 6, 11 km north of South Baymouth (CBe, TRa); in Algonquin PP, Nipissing, one seen on June 1 on Canoe Lake (JaRi); and in Rainy River, a sighting on June 4 in Chapple Twp. near Finland (MSD). There must have been several distinct streams of Monarchs heading northward. In Algoma one observer, MOli, had reported 52 sightings by July 15. Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Lanark, Leeds- Grenville, Prescott-Russell and Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry), with probably a hundred observers, reported just thirteen in the same time period. The Algoma Monarchs must have flown up the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, then crossed two bodies of water to reach Sault Ste. Marie. The Rainy River Monarchs must have come north to the west of Lake Superior; by June 13 they had been reported, by just two observers, seven times, compared to just two records in Eastern Ontario. There were twenty reports from Algonquin PP, Nipissing from June 1 to September 27, all singles except two. There were 188 reports from the north, 123 of them from Algoma, May 28 to September 28, the highest count twenty on August 27 on Fort Road, St. Joseph’s Island (MOli). There were thirty reports from Rainy River, June 4 to September 26, the highest count 21 on July 27 on Hwy 619 in the Geographic Twp. of Nelles (DHE, MSD). There were 18 reports from Thunder Bay, June 17 to September 12, the earliest a report of eggs at Alice Avenue, and between July 9 and July 18 there were five reports of larvae there (NGE). There were twelve reports from Manitoulin, May 31 to September 28, highest count five on July 13 west of South Baymouth (TRa). There were three reports from Sudbury between July 11 and August 22, and two from Kenora, on July 11 and August 4.

There were 554 records with Notes, containing 37 reports of nectaring on a wide variety of flowers, mainly by four observers: BVR, JBar, LJ, and RT. In late summer, August 19 to September 24, there were six reports of “puddling” on wet sand or dry sand or gravel, all near Tweed, Hastings (JBar). There were seven reports of oviposition, on Common Milkweed (RJY, LJ), on Orange Milkweed (BKu) and on Swamp Milkweed (DaE, JoH). There were 62 reports of larvae, four on Swamp Milkweed, one on Orange Milkweed, nine which just said “milkweed”, and 48 which did not mention any foodplant at all, and two reports of a pupa.

In the early season right up to the end of July the number of sightings and the number of individuals were low, with only eight of 495 records having counts higher than ten, but GRT made an interesting sighting of (presumably incoming) migrants on June 13 at Leamington, Essex: “I just spotted more than 100 monarchs in 20 minutes (at 14:00 - 14:20) making headway into the SW wind along the shore heading westward through Seacliff Park by the Lighthouse Club along the bluff. Some are nectaring along the way.” The numbers of records and individuals picked up in August, with 33 of

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

390 records higher than ten. These included the first five reports made by WF during the Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch on August 27 to 31, in Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough, Metro-Toronto; his highest count was 31 on the 31st. There were 48 records higher than ten in 361 records in September, including the first really high ones showing migration; 19 of them were higher than 100, nine of these at Rosetta McClain Gardens (WF). On September 13 there was an estimate of 1000 at the Tip in Point Pelee NP, Essex (JLH, MFi) and on September 15 RJY and KRY counted 1470 at West Beach, Point Pelee NP. The highest count was 1500, on September 20 at Rosetta McClain Gardens (WF). Numbers dropped off quickly in October, with the highest count 24 on the 9th, at Rosetta McClain Gardens (WF). Most records in November were singles but AW saw four at Point Pelee NP, between the West Beach parking lot and the half-way transit stop. There were five records on November 15: one seen on the Doris McCarthy Trail in Scarborough, Metro-Toronto (BH), one seen on McKinlay Road, east of Rondeau, Kent (BAM), and two seen at Rondeau PP, Kent (LuF), The latest were two records on the 16th: one seen at West Beach, Point Pelee NP (AW) and one seen in Portsmouth Village at Kingston, Frontenac (MCS).

Correspondence between plant names used in this publication and VASCAN names

VASCAN is the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. It is a comprehensive list of all vascular plants reported in Canada, Greenland (Denmark) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France). VASCAN is widely accepted by botanists as the current authority for Canadian botanical taxonomy: http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/search

Name in this publication VASCAN Common Name VASCAN Scientific Name (each word begins with a capital letter for a specific species) Alfalfa Alfalfa Medicago sativa Alternate-leaved Dogwood Alternate-leaved Dogwood Cornus alternifolia Baptisia Baptisia Baptisia sp. Bastard Toadflax Bastard Toadflax Comandra umbellate Bearberry Common Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bird’s-foot Trefoil Garden Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Black Cherry Black Cherry Prunus serotine Blackberry blackberry Rubus sp. Bladder Campion Bladder Campion Silene vulgaris Blue Cohosh Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum giganteum Blue False Indigo False Indigo Amorpha fruticosa Blue Lupine lupine Lupinus sp. Blueberry blueberry Vaccinium sp. Broadleaf Plantain Broad-leaved Plantain Plantago major

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Broad-leaved Toothwort Broad-leaved Toothwort Cardamine diphylla Brown Knapweed Brown Knapweed Centaurea jacea Brown-Eyed Susan Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Buddleia Butterfly Bush Buddleia sp. Bull Thistle Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare Butterfly Milkweed Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Butternut Butternut Juglans cinerea Canada Goldenrod Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis Canada Thistle Canada Thistle Cirsium arvense Carrot Carrot Daucus carota Chicory Wild Chicory Cichorium intybus Chokecherry Chokecherry Prunus virginiana Coltsfoot Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Columbine Canada Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Common Burdock Common Burdock Arctium minus Common Milkweed Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Common Valerian Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis Cranberry cranberry Vaccinium sp. Crown Vetch Purple Crown Vetch Segurifera varia Daisy Ox-Eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Dandelion dandelion Taraxacum sp. Dill Dill Anethum graveolens Dogbane dogbane Apocynum sp. Dutchman’s Pipe Dutchman’s-Pipe Isotrema macrophyllum Eastern Red Cedar Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Echinacea Echinacea Echinacea sp. Elm elm Ulmus sp. European Lake Sedge European Lake Sedge Carex acutiformis False Hedge Bindweed Hedge False Bindweed Calystegia sepia Fireweed Fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Flat-topped Aster Flat-top White Aster Doellengeria umbellata Fleabane fleabane Erigeron sp. Flowering Raspberry Purple Flowering Raspberry Rubus odoratus Garden Kale Kale Brassica oleracea Garlic Mustard Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata Globe Amaranth Globe Amaranth Gomphrena globosa Goldenrod goldenrod Solidago sp. Gooseberry gooseberry Ribes sp. Hawkweed hawkweed Hieracium sp.

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Heath Aster Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides Hog Peanut Hog Peanut Amphicarpaea bracteata Hops Common Hop Humulus lupulus Indian Hemp Hemp Dogbane Apocynum cannabinum Joe-Pye-Weed Spotted Joe Pye Weed Euchotrium maculatum Licorice Licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota Lilac Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris Manitoba Maple Manitoba Maple Acer negundo Marsh Marigold Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris Nannyberry Nannyberry Viburnum lentago Narrow-leaved Spiraea Narrow-leaved Spiraea Spiraea alba New England Aster New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Obedient Plant Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana Orange Milkweed Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Ox-Eye Daisy Ox-Eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Peach-leaved Willow Peach-leaved Willow Salix amygdaloides Poplar poplar Populus sp. Prickly-Ash Common Prickly-Ash Zanthoxylum americanum Purple Coneflower Eastern Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Purslane Purslane Portulaca oleracea Pussy Willow Pussy Willow Salix discolor Pussytoes pussytoes Antennaria sp. Quaking Aspen Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides Queen Anne’s Lace Wild Carrot Daucus carota Red Clover Red Clover Trifolium pratense Red Hawkweed Orange Hawkweed Pilosella aurantiaca Red Pine Red Pine Pinus resinosa Selfheal Common Self-heal Prunella vulgaris Shadbush shadbush Amelanchier sp. Shepherd’s Purse Shepherd’s Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Spreading Dogbane Spreading Dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium Spring Beauty Spring Beauty Claytonia sp. Staghorn Sumac Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina Stiff White Aster Upland White Goldenrod Solidago ptarmicoides Stinging Nettle Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Swamp Milkweed Swamp Milkweed Asclepias carnata Swamp Smartweed Swamp Smartweed Persicaria amphibia Swamp Vervain Swamp Vervain Verbena hastata Sweet Gale Sweet Gale Myrica gale

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Tall White Aster Tall White Aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Tansy Tansy Tanacetum vulgare Tartarian Honeysuckle Tartarian Honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica Thistle thistle Cirsium sp. Trout Lily Yellow Trout Lily Erythronium americanum Turnip Turnip Brassica rapa Turtlehead White Turtlehead Chelone glabra Violet violet Viola sp. Viper’s Bugloss Common Viper Bugloss Echium vulgare Weeping Willow Weeping Willow Salix babylonica White Birch White Birch Betula papyrifera White Clover White Clover Trifolium repens White Dock White Dock Rumex triangulivalvis White Sweet Clover White Sweet-clover Melilotus albus Wild Bergamot Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wild Marjoram Wild Marjoram Origanum vulgare Wild Mustard Wild Mustard Brassica rapa Wild Parsnip Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa Wild Strawberry Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginiana Winter Cress Wintercress Barbaraea sp. Yarrow Yarrow Achillea millefolium Yellow Rocket Yellow Rocket Barbarea vulgaris

CHECKLIST OF ONTARIO BUTTERFLIES AND SKIPPERS

By Colin D. Jones

Superfamily: HESPERIOIDEA Latreille Family: HESPERIIDAE Latreille SKIPPERS Subfamily: Pyrginae Burmeister PYRGINE SKIPPERS

___ Epargyreus clarus (Cramer) SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER a) clarus ___ Urbanus proteus (Linnaeus) LONG-TAILED SKIPPER ___ Achalarus lyciades (Geyer) HOARY EDGE ___ Thorybes bathyllus (J.E. Smith) SOUTHERN CLOUDYWING ___ Thorybes pylades (Scudder) NORTHERN CLOUDYWING a) pylades ___ Staphylus hayhurstii (W.H. Edwards) HAYHURST'S SCALLOPWING ___ Erynnis icelus (Scudder & Burgess) DREAMY DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis brizo (Boisduval & Leconte) SLEEPY DUSKYWING

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

a) brizo ___ Erynnis juvenalis (Fabricius) JUVENAL'S DUSKYWING a) juvenalis ___ Erynnis horatius (Scudder & Burgess) HORACE'S DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis martialis (Scudder) MOTTLED DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis zarucco (Lucas) ZARUCCO DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis funeralis (Scudder & Burgess) FUNEREAL DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis lucilius (Scudder & Burgess) COLUMBINE DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis baptisiae (Forbes) WILD INDIGO DUSKYWING ___ Erynnis persius (Scudder) a) persius EASTERN PERSIUS DUSKYWING b) borealis (Cary) BOREAL PERSIUS DUSKYWING ___ Pyrgus centaureae (Rambur) GRIZZLED SKIPPER a) freija (Warren) ___ Pyrgus communis (Grote) COMMON CHECKERED SKIPPER ___ Pholisora catullus (Fabricius) COMMON SOOTYWING

Subfamily Heteropterinae Aurivillius INTERMEDIATE SKIPPERS

___ Carterocephalus palaemon (Pallas) ARCTIC SKIPPER a) mandan (W.H. Edwards)

Subfamily Hesperiinae Latreille BRANDED SKIPPERS

___ Lerema accius (J.E. Smith) CLOUDED SKIPPER ___ Ancyloxypha numitor (Fabricius) LEAST SKIPPER ___ Oarisma garita (Reakirt) GARITA SKIPPERLING ___ Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer) EUROPEAN SKIPPER ___ Hylephila phyleus (Drury) FIERY SKIPPER a) phyleus ___ Hesperia comma (Linnaeus) COMMON BRANDED SKIPPER a) manitoba (Scudder) b) borealis Lindsey c) laurentina (Lyman) ___ Hesperia leonardus Harris LEONARD'S SKIPPER a) leonardus ___ Hesperia sassacus Harris INDIAN SKIPPER ___ Polites peckius (W. Kirby) PECK'S SKIPPER ___ Polites themistocles (Latreille) TAWNY-EDGED SKIPPER ___ Polites origenes (Fabricius) CROSSLINE SKIPPER a) origenes ___Polites mystic (W.H. Edwards) LONG DASH ___ Polites vibex (Geyer) WHIRLABOUT a) vibex ___ Wallengrenia egeremet (Scudder) NORTHERN BROKEN-DASH ___ Pompeius verna (W.H. Edwards) LITTLE GLASSYWING ___ Atalopedes campestris (Boisduval) SACHEM ___ Anatrytone logan (W.H. Edwards) DELAWARE SKIPPER a) logan ___ Poanes massasoit (Scudder) MULBERRY WING a) massasoit ___ Poanes hobomok (Harris) HOBOMOK SKIPPER = form “pocahontas” (Scudder) ___ Poanes zabulon (Boisduval and Leconte) ZABULON SKIPPER ___ Poanes viator (W.H. Edwards) BROAD-WINGED SKIPPER

Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

a) viator ___ Euphyes dion (W.H. Edwards) DION SKIPPER a) dion ___ Euphyes dukesi (Lindsey) DUKES' SKIPPER ___ Euphyes conspicua (W.H. Edwards) BLACK DASH a) conspicua ___ Euphyes bimacula (Grote & Robinson) TWO-SPOTTED SKIPPER a) bimacula ___ Euphyes vestris (Boisduval) DUN SKIPPER a) metacomet (Harris) ___ Atrytonopsis hianna (Scudder) DUSTED SKIPPER a) hianna ___ Amblyscirtes hegon (Scudder) PEPPER AND SALT SKIPPER ___ Amblyscirtes vialis (W.H. Edwards) COMMON ROADSIDE SKIPPER ___ Calpodes ethlius (Stoll) BRAZILIAN SKIPPER ___ Panoquina ocola (W.H. Edwards) OCOLA SKIPPER

Superfamily PAPILIONOIDEA Latreille Family PAPILIONIDAE Latreille Subfamily Papilioninae Latreille SWALLOWTAILS ___ Battus philenor (Linnaeus) PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL a) philenor ___ Eurytides marcellus (Cramer) ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL ___ Papilio polyxenes Fabricius BLACK SWALLOWTAIL a) asterias Stoll ___ Papilio machaon Linnaeus OLD WORLD SWALLOWTAIL a) hudsonianus A.H. Clark ___ Papilio cresphontes Cramer EASTERN GIANT SWALLOWTAIL ___ Papilio glaucus Linnaeus EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL a) glaucus ___ Papilio canadensis Rothschild & Jordan CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL ___ Papilio troilus Linnaeus SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL a) troilus

Family PIERIDAE Duponchel Subfamily Pierinae Duponchel WHITES AND MARBLES

___ Pontia protodice (Boisduval & Leconte) CHECKERED WHITE ___ Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt) WESTERN WHITE a) occidentalis ___ Pieris oleracea Harris MUSTARD WHITE a) oleracea ___ Pieris virginiensis W.H. Edwards WEST VIRGINIA WHITE ___ Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) CABBAGE WHITE ___ Ascia monuste (Linnaeus) GREAT SOUTHERN WHITE ___ Euchloe ausonides Lucas LARGE MARBLE a) ausonides ___ Euchloe olympia (W.H. Edwards) OLYMPIA MARBLE

Subfamily Coliadinae Swainson SULPHURS

___ Colias philodice Godart CLOUDED SULPHUR a) philodice ___ Colias eurytheme Boisduval ORANGE SULPHUR ___ Colias gigantea Strecker GIANT SULPHUR

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a) gigantea ___ Colias pelidne Boisduval & Leconte PELIDNE SULPHUR a) pelidne ___ Colias interior Scudder PINK-EDGED SULPHUR ___ Colias palaeno (Linnaeus) PALAENO SULPHUR a) chippewa (W.H. Edwards) ___ Zerene cesonia (Stoll) SOUTHERN DOGFACE ___ Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus) CLOUDLESS SULPHUR a) eubule (Linnaeus) ___ Phoebis philea (Linnaeus) ORANGE-BARRED SULPHUR ___ Eurema mexicanum (Boisduval) MEXICAN YELLOW ___ Pyrisitia lisa (Boisduval & Leconte) LITTLE YELLOW ___ Abaeis nicippe (Cramer) SLEEPY ORANGE ___ Nathalis iole (Boisduval) DAINTY SULPHUR

Family LYCAENIDAE Leach Subfamily Miletinae Corbet HARVESTERS

___ Feniseca tarquinius (Fabricius) THE HARVESTER

Subfamily Lycaeninae Leach COPPERS

___ Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus) AMERICAN COPPER a) americana Harris ___ Lycaena dione (Scudder) GRAY COPPER ___ Lycaena hyllus (Cramer) BRONZE COPPER ___ Lycaena epixanthe (Boisduval & Leconte) BOG COPPER a) michiganensis Rawson ___ Lycaena dorcas W. Kirby DORCAS COPPER a) dorcas ___ Lycaena helloides (Boisduval) PURPLISH COPPER

Subfamily Theclinae Swainson HAIRSTREAKS

___ Satyrium acadica (W.H. Edwards) ACADIAN HAIRSTREAK a) acadica ___ Satyrium titus (Fabricius) CORAL HAIRSTREAK a) titus ___ Satyrium edwardsii (Grote & Robinson) EDWARDS’ HAIRSTREAK ___ Satyrium calanus (Hübner) BANDED HAIRSTREAK a) falacer (Godart) ___ Satyrium caryaevorus (McDunnough) HICKORY HAIRSTREAK ___ Satyrium liparops (Leconte) STRIPED HAIRSTREAK a) strigosum (Harris) b) fletcheri (Michener & dos Passos) ___ Satyrium favonius (J.E. Smith) SOUTHERN HAIRSTREAK a) ontario (W.H. Edwards) ___ Callophrys gryneus (Hübner) JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK a) gryneus ___ Callophrys augustinus (Westwood) BROWN ELFIN a) augustinus ___ Callophrys polios (Cook & Watson) HOARY ELFIN a) polios ___ Callophrys irus (Godart) FROSTED ELFIN a) irus

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___ Callophrys henrici (Grote & Robinson) HENRY’S ELFIN a) henrici ___ Callophrys lanoraieensis (Sheppard) BOG ELFIN ___ Callophrys niphon (Hübner) EASTERN PINE ELFIN a) clarki (T.N. Freeman) ___ Callophrys eryphon (Boisduval) WESTERN PINE ELFIN b) eryphon ___ Parrhasius m-album (Boisduval & Leconte) WHITE-M HAIRSTREAK ___ Strymon melinus Hübner GRAY HAIRSTREAK a) melinus b) franki Field ___ Erora laeta (W.H. Edwards) EARLY HAIRSTREAK

Subfamily Polyommatinae Swainson BLUES

___ Leptotes marina (Reakirt) MARINE BLUE ___ Cupido comyntas (Godart) EASTERN TAILED BLUE a) comyntas ___ Cupido amyntula (Boisduval) WESTERN TAILED BLUE a) albrighti Clench ___ Celastrina lucia (W. Kirby) SPRING AZURE ___ Celastrina neglecta (W.H. Edwards) SUMMER AZURE a) neglecta ___ Celastrina serotina Pavulaan and Wright CHERRY GALL AZURE ___ Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Doubleday) SILVERY BLUE a) couperi Grote ___ Plebejus idas (Linnaeus) NORTHERN BLUE a) scudderi (W.H. Edwards) ___ Plebejus melissa (W.H. Edwards) MELISSA (KARNER) BLUE a) samuelis Nabokov ___ Plebejus saepiolus (Boisduval) GREENISH BLUE a) amica (W.H. Edwards) ___ Plebejus glandon (de Prunner) ARCTIC BLUE d) franklinii (Curtis)

Family NYMPHALIDAE Swainson Subfamily Libytheinae Boisduval SNOUTS

___ Libytheana carinenta (Cramer) AMERICAN SNOUT a) bachmanii (Kirtland)

Subfamily Heliconiinae Swainson HELICONIANS AND FRITILLARIES

___ Agraulis vanillae (Linnaeus) GULF FRITILLARY ___ Euptoieta claudia (Cramer) VARIEGATED FRITILLARY ___ Speyeria cybele (Fabricius) GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY a) cybele b) krautwurmi (Holland) ___ Speyeria aphrodite (Fabricius) APHRODITE FRITILLARY a) aphrodite b) alcestis (W.H. Edwards) ___ Speyeria idalia (Drury) REGAL FRITILLARY ___ Speyeria atlantis (W.H. Edwards) ATLANTIS FRITILLARY a) atlantis (W.H. Edwards) b) canadensis (dos Passos)

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Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

___ Boloria eunomia (Esper) BOG FRITILLARY a) triclaris (Hübner) b) dawsoni (Barnes & McDunnough) ___ Boloria selene [Denis & Schiffermuller] SILVER-BORDERED FRITILLARY a) atrocostalis (Huard) ___ Boloria bellona (Fabricius) MEADOW FRITILLARY a) bellona b) toddi (Holland) ___ Boloria frigga (Thunberg) SAGA FRITILLARY a) saga (Staudinger) ___ Boloria freija (Thunberg) FREIJA FRITILLARY a) freija ___ Boloria chariclea (Schneider) ARCTIC FRITILLARY a) arctica (Zetterstedt) b) grandis (Barnes & McDunnough)

Subfamily Nymphalinae Swainson TRUE BRUSHFOOTS

___ Chlosyne gorgone (Hübner) GORGONE CHECKERSPOT a) carlota (Reakirt) ___ Chlosyne nycteis (Doubleday) SILVERY CHECKERSPOT a) nycteis ___ Chlosyne harrisii (Scudder) HARRIS’S CHECKERSPOT a) harrisii ___ Phyciodes tharos (Drury) PEARL CRESCENT a) tharos ___ Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer) NORTHERN CRESCENT ___ Phyciodes batesii (Reakirt) TAWNY CRESCENT a) batesii ___ Euphydryas phaeton (Drury) BALTIMORE CHECKERSPOT a) phaeton ___ Polygonia interrogationis (Fabricius) QUESTION MARK = form “umbrosa” (Lintner) ___ Polygonia comma (Harris) EASTERN COMMA ___ Polygonia satyrus (W.H. Edwards) SATYR COMMA ___ Polygonia faunus (W.H. Edwards) GREEN COMMA a) faunus ___ Polygonia gracilis (Grote & Robinson) HOARY COMMA a) gracilis ___ Polygonia progne (Cramer) GRAY COMMA ___ Nymphalis l-album (Esper) COMPTON TORTOISESHELL ___ Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus) a) hyperborea (Seitz) NORTHERN MOURNING CLOAK b) lintnerii (Fitch) LINTNER’S MOURNING CLOAK ___ Aglais milberti (Godart) MILBERT’S TORTOISESHELL a) milberti ___ Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) AMERICAN LADY ___ Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) PAINTED LADY ___ Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus) RED ADMIRAL a) rubria (Fruhstorfer) ___ Junonia coenia (Hübner) COMMON BUCKEYE a) coenia

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Ontario Lepidoptera 2015______

Subfamily Limenitidinae Behr ADMIRALS

___ Limenitis arthemis (Drury) a) arthemis (Drury) WHITE ADMIRAL b) astyanax (Fabricius) RED-SPOTTED PURPLE ___ Limenitis archippus (Cramer) VICEROY a) archippus ___ Limenitis weidemeyerii (W.H. Edwards) WEIDEMEYER’S ADMIRAL

Subfamily Apaturinae Boisduval EMPERORS

___ Asterocampa celtis (Boisduval & Leconte) HACKBERRY EMPEROR a) celtis ___ Asterocampa clyton (Boisduval & Leconte) TAWNY EMPEROR a) clyton

Subfamily Satyrinae Boisduval SATYRS AND WOOD-NYMPHS

___ Lethe anthedon A. Clark NORTHERN PEARLY-EYE ___ Lethe eurydice (Linnaeus) EYED BROWN a) eurydice ___ Lethe appalachia (R.L. Chermock) APPALACHIAN BROWN a) leeuwi (Gatrelle & Arbogast) ___ Megisto cymela (Cramer) LITTLE WOOD-SATYR a) cymela ___ Coenonympha tullia (Müller) COMMON RINGLET a) inornata W.H. Edwards ___ Cercyonis pegala (Fabricius) COMMON WOOD-NYMPH a) nephele (W. Kirby) ___ Erebia mancinus Doubleday TAIGA ALPINE ___ Erebia discoidalis (W. Kirby) RED-DISKED ALPINE a) discoidalis ___ Oeneis macounii (W.H. Edwards) MACOUN’S ARCTIC ___ Oeneis chryxus (Doubleday & Hewitson) CHRYXUS ARCTIC a) strigulosa McDunnough b) calais (Scudder) ___ Oeneis jutta (Hübner) JUTTA ARCTIC b) ascerta Masters & Sorensen d) harperi F.H. Chermock ___ Oeneis melissa (Fabricius) MELISSA ARCTIC a) semplei Holland

Subfamily Danainae Duponchel MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES

___ Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) MONARCH a) plexippus

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Red-disked Alpine, near Dinorwic Lake, Kenora. See story page 19 (photo: Ellen Riggins).

Silvery Blue, Ottawa. See story page 27 (photo: Ralph Thorpe).