Broomfoot butterfly – grassland pollination

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Contents

Representative genus and species:Pollinator Life Cycle:Rarity Status:appearance:Pollinator Habitat:Canada Distribution:Grassland Type:

This is one of the largest and most diverse families of butterflies, including admirals, fritillaries, checkerboards and crescents. There are 40 known species of butterflies in Manitoba. Some butterflies, such as the red admiral, are known for their annual migrations. Other butterflies hibernate as adults, often in woodpiles or lumber piles. Adult butterflies feed on nectar and tree sap. The food plants for many butterfly larvae include flowering plants, shrubs and trees.

Representative genus and species:

Clossiana bellona, Limenitis weidemeyerii

Pollinator Life Cycle:

Females usually lay eggs on various plants, either on the larval host plant or nearby. They may lay more than one brood per year. The larvae are usually spines and form pupae that hang upside down. Most species hibernate at this stage or in pupal form, but some will overwinter as adults.

Rarity Status:

Most species are not considered rare in Canada. The Westerling butterfly is protected under Canada’s Endangered Species Act. Other Canadian species have provincial and national status ranging from “safe” to “extinct.”

appearance:

These butterflies have small front legs without claws and cannot be used for walking. They are medium to large (25 mm to 90 mm wide) with distinct bulbous antennae. Their serrated or curved wings are brightly colored in brown, orange, white and black. Wing patterns vary and include spots, checkerboards, colored stripes, triangles and commas. Larvae are usually brown or black and sometimes covered in spines.

Pollinator Habitat:

These butterflies are found in a wide variety of species in nearly all terrestrial habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, and forests. They tend to be found where food plants grow.

Canada Distribution: