Odonates and Lepidoptera summer 2025

 It has been a hot summer, with extended heat waves and dry conditions.  Before we start complaining about the cold, I thought I'd write about our remarkable dragons, damsels, butterflies and moths.  Lambton County is home to several species of these winged wonders. Summer 2025 I have wandered Blackwell trails, Wawanosh and Canatara park, as well as farther out into the county at Sydenham River Nature Reserve, Marthaville Management Area, Discovery Park and Pinery P.P. as well as my home garden.  I have seen more than these species, but was unable to get decent photos, so here is a sampling of my summer.

Red Spotted Purple (Admiral) Limentis arthemis astyanax at Marthaville

Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes at Wawanosh Wetlands

8 spotted Forestors Moth Alypia octomaculata at home garden, Wyoming

Cabbage White butterfly Pieri rapae on Aster at home

Eastern Giant Swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes in Wyoming

Great Spangled Fritillary Argynnis cybele at Sydenham River Nature Reserve

                                    Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus on Joe Pye Weed at home in Wyoming

 

                                            Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa at Blackwell Trails Park in Sarnia

                                                Northern Crescent butterfly Phyciodes cocyta at Kettle Point

Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos at home

Summer Azure Celastrina neglecta at Wawanosh

Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton at Sydenham River Nature Reserve

                                              Hummingbird clearwing Hemaris thysbe moth at Marthaville

Polyphemus moth Antheraea polyphemus at Wyoming

Powder moth Eufidonia notataria at Pinery PP

When it gets really hot,  above 25C, you get dragonsflies and damselflies.  These luminescent insects forage around freshwater.  I find them quite often at sewage lagoons and stagnant streams and rivers.   They feed on smaller insects, mainly mosquitoes.  Here are some that I've seen this summer.

                              Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis pair at Marthaville 

Common Whitetail  Plathemis lydia at Marthaville

Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis at Tupperville

                                               Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile at Brights Grove sewage lagoon

Blue tipped Dancer Argia tibialis at Marthaville

Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina at Marthaville

Ruby Meadowhawk Sympetrum rubicundullum at Marthaville

Slaty Skimmer Libelllula incesta  at Marthaville

In my experience it has not been a very busy summer for butterflies and dragonflies.  The cooler spring and extreme heat of summer has created some inconsistency.  Late summer has been quite cool, so I'm hoping there is more action come autumn.  Dragonflies are usually classified into perchers and fliers.  Fliers (Green Darner, Wandering glider) are usually bigger,, more robust and spend most of their time in the air.  Perchers (Blue Dasher, Cruisers, Skimmers) sit on a piece of vegetation and hunt.  They are much easier to photograph! Dragonflies are the most efficient predators, they never miss.  With their large eyes and agile flying styles, other insects don't stand a chance!  All insects provide food for our avian friends, and we are already seeing a decline in the overall insect population.  I belong to the NABA (North American Butterfly Association) where we do annual butterfly counts which is quite educational and brings like minded individuals together.  My local naturalist group (Lambton Wildlife Inc.) also has great outings to look and record in our local areas.  

If you can stand the heat, try to get out and find these gorgeous creatures, you won't be disappointed!