Monarchs in Canada &Point Pelee National Park

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Viceroy  (Limenitis archippus)

White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis )

Butterflies in Canada

There are approximately300 different species of

butterflies in CanadaMorning Cloak (Nymplalis antiopa)

Photos: Parks Canada

Butterflies at Risk in Canada

Evaluated by the “ Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada ”, there are 28 different species of butterflies in Canada identified as “ Species at Risk ”. They have special protection status under Canada’s Species at Risk Act and include: Weidemeyer’s Admiral, Karner Blue and Taylor’s Checkerspot.

The Monarch butterfly is a Species at Risk because of the threats to the migratory phenomenon. Examples of threats are disappearance of overwintering habitat, predation and, herbicide and insecticide use in breeding habitats.

Photo: Parks Canada

The Monarch is the most

commonly known of all butterflies

Range of Monarchs in Canada (all stages of the life cycle)

Western Population

Erratically, common Rarely

Scarce Occur

regularly Southern ON & QC

annually, often in abundance

Maritimes occur irregularly

Eastern Population

Canadian Range

Map: J. Lauriault, Canadian Museum of Nature

Fall Migration Staging Areas in Eastern Canada

Point Pelee National Park

Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area

Long Point National

Wildlife Area

Presqu’ile Provincial

Park

Rondeau Provincial Park

Map: J. Lauriault, Canadian Museum of Nature

Point Pelee – A Funnel for Migration

Image: Parks Canada

The shape of Point Pelee National Park, jutting out into Lake

Erie, makes the national park a prime

stopover for many migratory species of

insects, birds and bats

Point Pelee National Park is also rich in biodiversity,

which provides habitat and food sources for migratory species,

including the Monarch

Milkweed in Canada

Milkweed is found in every province in Canada

except for Newfoundland and Northern Canada: Nunavut, the North West Territories

and the Yukon

Swamp Milkweed

Common Milkweed

Photos: J. Lauriault, Canadian Museum of Nature

Distribution of Milkweed in Canada

Milkweed is found mainly in southern regions of Canada

Map: J. Lauriault, Canadian Museum of Nature

Milkweed

Selective Feeders

Monarch larvae feed exclusively on milkweed worldwide.

There are approximately 230 different kinds of milkweed worldwide.

There are 14 native species in Canada.

Monarch in the classroom

Photo: J. Lauriault, Canadian Museum of Nature

Transformation

It takes approximately 30 days to transform

from egg to caterpillar to butterfly

Point Pelee National Park of CanadaCanada’s Southern

Sanctuary

Point Pelee National Park is a prime location to

observe fall migration of Monarch butterflies on

their way to their wintering grounds in the

volcanic mountains of central Mexico

Trinational Cooperation Through the North American

Monarch Conservation Plan, Canada, Mexico and the United States are working together to protect Monarch populations, migratory flyways and habitat. For additional information visit www.cec.org.

Parks Canada also contributes to this effort through various monitoring and education programs.

Point Pelee National Park conducts annual butterfly counts, rears and tags Monarch butterflies through Monarch Watch, and educates visitors with a live Monarch exhibit.

For additional information on

Monarch migration at Point

Pelee National Park, visit our

website at www.pc.gc.ca/poi

ntpelee

Photos: Parks Canada

PowerPoint produced by Point Pelee National Park of Canada in collaboration with Jean Lauriault, Canadian Museum of Nature

www.nature.ca