Butterflies: The Bold And The Beautiful

Butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera, a group that includes both butterflies and moths. The name means "scale wing," referring to the millions of tiny scales that cover their wings and create their colours and patterns. Worldwide, there are about 165,000 species of Lepidoptera but only about 20,000 are butterflies - the vast majority are moths.
Your observations help researchers track population changes.

So far, 86 species (and counting) of butterflies have been reported.
Butterflies Of Muskoka project on iNaturalist

What Makes a Butterfly a Butterfly?

Like all insects, butterflies have:

  • Three body parts: Head, thorax and abdomen
  • Six legs
  • Two pairs of wings
  • Two antennae
Their antennae help them smell, their compound eyes can detect ultraviolet light, and their long, straw-like mouthpart (proboscis) allows them to drink nectar and other liquids. Butterflies even taste with their feet (!) using chemical sensors to identify suitable plants.

Butterfly or Moth?
While closely related, butterflies and moths differ in several ways:

  • Antennae: Butterflies have clubbed tips; moths often have feathery antennae
  • Activity: Butterflies are day-flying; most moths are nocturnal
  • Body shape: Moths are typically thicker and hairier
  • Resting posture: Butterflies usually hold wings closed; moths often hold them open
  • Pupae: Butterflies form a chrysalis; moths usually spin a cocoon
There are exceptions, but these traits help distinguish them.

The Butterfly Life Cycle

Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, moving through four distinct stages:

Egg
Females lay eggs on specific host plants. Eggs typically hatch within a week, though some species overwinter at this stage.
Larva (Caterpillar)
This is the feeding and growing stage. Caterpillars eat constantly and shed their skin several times as they grow.
Pupa (Chrysalis)
Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar’s body reorganizes into an adult butterfly. This stage may last one to two weeks or extend through winter.
Adult Butterfly
After emerging, the butterfly must hang and pump fluid into its wings before they dry and harden; a vulnerable process that takes several hours.
survival isn't easy
Butterflies produce many offspring because survival rates are very low. Eggs, caterpillars, and pupae are eaten by:

  • Birds
  • Spiders and insects
  • Parasitic wasps and flies
  • Small mammals and other predators
Often fewer than 10% survive to adulthood. While this may seem harsh, it highlights an important truth: Butterflies are a critical food source and an essential part of the food web. Caterpillars, in particular, provide vital nutrition for many songbirds raising their young.

                                                   MONARCHS: A SPECIAL CONCERN

Monarch populations fluctuate from year to year but have shown a long-term decline over the past two decades.

Their survival depends on:
  • Availability of milkweed
  • Weather during migration
  • Conditions at overwintering sites
  • Habitat protection across North America
While monarchs exist elsewhere in the world, their remarkable North American migration is what is most at risk.
About Monarch Butterflies

Butterflies And Pollination

Butterflies do contribute to pollination, though they are not as efficient as bees for crop production. Their greater ecological value lies in:

  • Supporting food webs
  • Maintaining plant diversity
  • Acting as indicators of ecosystem health
Because butterflies are sensitive to habitat changes, their presence (or absence) can signal the overall condition of the environment.
butterflies in ontario
Ontario supports an impressive diversity of butterflies, with more than 160 species recorded. Southern Ontario has the highest diversity in Canada because its climate allows many species with more southern ranges to occur here. 

Conservation efforts focus on protecting species at risk and restoring rare habitats such as:

  • Tallgrass prairie
  • Oak savanna
These ecosystems have declined due to development, agriculture and the loss of natural disturbance processes such as fire. Habitat restoration benefits butterflies along with birds, reptiles and many other species. Butterflies are often used as indicator species to measure the success of these efforts.
how you can help butterflies
  • Plant native nectar flowers
  • Include host plants for caterpillars
  • Provide blooms from spring through fall
  • Choose sunny, sheltered locations
  • Leave some natural areas for shelter and pupation
  • Provide shallow moist soil for puddling (minerals and salts)
  • Avoid pesticides
Examples of host plants:
  • Monarch - Milkweed
  • Red Admiral - Nettles
  • Swallowtails - Common Hoptree and Northern Prickly Ash
  • Painted Ladies - Thistles, asters, goldenrods
While butterflies prefer native plants, many garden flowers, including zinnias and other annuals, can provide additional nectar. 

By planting thoughtfully and reducing chemical use, you support entire ecosystems. Even simple actions like planting milkweed, allowing a corner of your yard to grow naturally, or recording butterfly sightings can make a meaningful difference. 

Protecting butterflies isn’t just about saving a beautiful insect. It’s about supporting biodiversity, healthy landscapes and the web of life that connects us all.

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