Butterfly, Moth Counts Return for July

July is a big month for the fluttering insects on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Ontario Butterfly Atlas Counts and National Moth Week both take place over the coming weeks, offering a chance to get outside, count and record some incredible insects, and contribute to important annual datasets.

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly on a thistle

Butterflies and moths are most often celebrated for their role as pollinators. Indeed, many species seek out nectar from flowers and pick up pollen grains on the way. However, plenty of butterflies don’t pollinate at all – they prefer to feast on foods like tree sap and animal scat. There are even moth species that don’t eat anything as adults, and rely entirely on energy stored from their days as a caterpillar. These species, like the striking Polyphemus moth, have one job after they emerge from a cocoon: to find a mate.

Polyphemus Moth

Whether or not they pollinate flowers, butterflies and moths make up an important part of the diet of other wildlife on the moraine, from birds, to mammals, to other insects. 

There are plenty of ways to support these fascinating insects. Planting native flowers provides nectar. Leaving the fallen leaves gives moths a place to weave a cocoon and overwinter undisturbed. Finally, many species seek out particular host plants to lay their eggs on – like monarchs and milkweeds!

Monarch Caterpillar on Swamp Milkweed

Curious about how to tell butterflies and moths apart? While there are exceptions to every rule, here are a few guidelines!

1. Butterflies tend to rest with their wings closed, and moths with their wings open.

2. There are plenty of night-flying moths, but butterflies are usually more active during the day. 

3. Butterflies have clubbed antennae (long and thin, with a widened end), whereas moths have feathery antennae.

4. Most butterfly caterpillars build hard chrysalises, and moth caterpillars spin silk cocoons. 

If you’re ever unsure, consider uploading a photo to a website like iNaturalist, where the online community will weigh in on the identification of the species you found! 

The ORMLT would love to hear about the butterflies and moths you encounter on the moraine. We protect and steward land to support native species, including species at risk like the Monarch butterfly. To date, we have recorded 254 different species of moth on ORMLT-protected properties, and Monarchs have been seen on 51 of our protected properties!