Point Pelee butterfly highlights 2024…
Steve Pike
This is a review of highlights this year at Point Pelee which was an exceptional year that included many record early and record late dates in this unusually warm year and also includes a few surprise observations from the south.
All occurred within the boundaries of Point Pelee National Park in 2024, except as noted for four species in this account.
All regions of Ontario are not accounted for yet so it’s possible some dates I’ve included here will be surpassed.
The data I used to cross reference our local sightings is found on the Butterfly Atlas at https://www.ontarioinsects.org/atlas/ which is an invaluable resource for better understanding our Butterfly world.
The season started off with a string of usually warm days for April which resulted in a few interesting butterfly observations…
April 14th
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Sandy and Ross Mackintosh, Steve Pike).
The previous (Record Early Date) RED for Pelee and Ontario was two (extremely fresh) on April 18, 1976 (John E. Pilkington, Alan Wormington).
April 29th
Every spring I wonder when I will see the first Monarch as many others do. I also for a long time wondered what the earliest date ever is for Monarch in Ontario and that RED belongs to John E. Pilkington Apr. 12, 1986 at Point Pelee and there are exactly 21 other early Monarch records across Ontario after that for April.
Includes in those 21 records is the next Pelee record of April 24th 2012, April 26th 2009, April 27th 2009 and 27th in 1994, April 29th 1990 so very few April Pelee records for Monach.
On April 29th Brandon Holden had a Monarch at the tip and Sarah Lamond had a Monarch at the corner of Mersea 21.
So only 8 April Pelee records now in total to put April Monarch arrivals into perspective at Pelee.
April 29th
Spicebush Swallowtail (Steve Pike). The RED for Ontario is April 17, 1976 (Alan Wormington) at Pelee and the next earliest date at Pelee is May 7th recorded in three different years (1990, 1999 and 2000).
May 5th
Eastern Giant Swallowtail (Jim Burk). Pelee’s previous RED was May 6, 2012 (Alan Wormington).
Ontario RED is Apr. 20, 2012 at Port Burwell, Ontario.
June 15th
Banded Hairstreak (Steve Pike) RE for the park by one day, previous RED was June 16, 1998 (Henrietta T. O'Neill).
However this does not surpass the previous RED for Ontario of June 8th, 2021 Malden Park, Windsor.
Aug 14th
Zabulon Skipper (Rick Mayos and two other observers that day that we still are unsure of their names. Also it’s likely Charisse Charon had the species before that date which will all be documented eventually).
This is a new addition to the Pelee list currently at 91 species which is the highest butterfly checklist for any one site in Canada.
Aug 22nd
Horace’s Duskywing female (Kailey Michnal, Adrian Demone and Steve Pike).
Sept 11th
One Southern Dogface Sulphur (Bob and Karen Yukich).
The following reports show the high counts that I know of until the last observation by Bob and Karen October 12th.
If anyone knows of any higher one day count of this species please let me know.
Sept 12th
At least three different parties searching with a combined count of 28 so with overlap I’m going to estimate 21 is the probable estimated total for the day between all observers.
Sept 19th
John Carley, Garth Riley and Nancy McPherson a total of 12.
Sept 21st
Isabel Apkarian, seven for the day.
Oct 1st
Ocola Skipper (Allanah Vokes).
Oct 12th
Fresh second brood Southern Dogface Sulphur (Bob and Karen Yukich).
-the previous record late (RLD) for So Dogface at Pelee was September 12, 2008 (J. Michael Tate).
Oct 31st
Red-spotted Purple (Steve Pike and Fred Grenier).
30 days record late for Pelee and a new RLD for the province (previous RLD was October 10th 2016 Cambellville, Ontario).
Previous Pelee RLD was one on October 1, 2010 Henrietta T. O'Neill.
Variegated Fritillary (Steve Pike) this is the most recent report I know of for at least five years in the park.
The Ontario RLD is Nov 9th 1999 at Pelee (Henrietta T. O’Neill).
Nov 6th…
Southern Dogface Sulphur (Jeremy Bensette) East Beach Road. This is the new RLD for the province.
Nov 9th…
Fiery Skipper (Steve Pike) on Concession E.
This ties the second latest Fiery for Ontario. On Nov. 9, 1998 Alan Wormington had one at NE Hillman Marsh.
The latest is Nov 11th 2012 (Alan
Wormington, Gary Tetzlaff) Leamington, Shoeless Joe's field.
November 12…
Least Skipper, Comber, Ontario (Harrison Priebe) this is a new RLD for the province.
And there we have it, a wrap of highlights from 2024, what an exciting year and looking forward again to next year!
Happy New Year everyone!
Steve Pike