Into The Woods: Butterflies in Spring
Doug Smith
““Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ”
Have you seen a butterfly yet? It is not unusual to see one on a warm day even in late March. If you have seen one it is likely one of five species seen in Ontario in early spring. Mourning cloaks are the most common, easily recognized by their dark brown wings, bordered with a pale yellow. Two relatives are called Tortiseshells because of the rich orange-brown patterns on their wings. Two others -- the Comma and the Question mark -- look similar in appearance, being orange with black blotches, but having sharply angled wing margins. When they fold their wings they look like a dead leaf.
All of these species overwinter as adults, secreting themselves away under tree bark, or under the loose siding of a building, or in a woodpile. They can look a little worse for the wear when they do emerge the following spring, showing frayed wings edges and worn colouring. But the sun's warm rays soon get them going, seeking sustenance from the dripping sap of a maple or birch, and getting about the business of finding a mate and laying eggs.
Not all butterflies overwinter as adults. Monarchs migrate south, all the way to Mexico, where they spend the winter hibernating in a few select locations in the mountains. It's their grandchildren that make it back into Ontario by June of the following year, and that generation's children that migrate south again in the fall.
Other butterflies also migrate. Red admirals, named for the red stripe on their black wings migrate north into Ontario every spring, though how they get south in the fall and where they go is not fully understood. The same is true of two of its relatives, the painted lady and the buckeye. Similar in size to the red admiral the painted lady shows an orange and black pattern on its wings. The buckeye is a little larger, and with distinct brown, orange and white colouring and large blue-black 'eyes' on its wings. Buckeyes are not often seen as far north as Beacon, though sightings in Muskoka are increasing.
Most butterflies survive winter's cold as either eggs or pupa, and emerge as caterpillars and butterflies when its gets warm enough for them to find food.
By summertime Beacon is full of butterflies. Newly arrived monarchs join the even larger yellow and black tiger swallowtails in the flowers around the dining room. Much smaller blues and coppers dance throughout the open area in front of the Lighthouse, while white admirals 'puddle' in the wet sand down at the beach.
These creatures weigh almost nothing, and have such delicate scales on their wings that these can rub off when touched. They thrive on minute quantities of tree sap, flower nectar and rotting fruit. Yet some survive sub-zero temperatures, or migrate incredible distances. All go through a complex life cycle, including a complete metamorphosis. Despite these trials they display dazzling beauty. How about us? Are we, with the Lord's help, displaying the beauty of our Redeemer and Creator, despite what is happening? It's a challenge, especially right now. But God's many promises encourage us to continue to trust Him, no matter our circumstances.