Insects of Alberta 1

I hadn't seen one of these "Yellow Woolly Bear" caterpillars for maybe 20-25 years, so was delighted when I spotted this one. These caterpillars grow to about 4 cm long. The first caterpillars are out by early August and last well into September. This species over-winters as pupae and, in Alberta, the very drab adults are flying in June and July.

Wondering why the butterfly wasn't flying away as I approached, I realized that it had been caught by a Crab Spider who now had lunch.

This beautiful Mourning Cloak Butterfly was resting and warming up on what appeared to be a popular "warming branch", conveniently below eye level. Its wings act as solar collectors, warming the blood in the wing veins.

Last summer (2005), Calgary had an invasion of Painted Lady butterflies, which happens every 10 years or so. Australia and Antarctica are the only continents that Painted Ladies do not live on.

The White Admiral is a large butterfly that can be found across Alberta from mid to late June and into summer. Sometimes, a small second generation appears in late August. They can be found along wooded roadsides and in clearings.

By chance, I happened to notice this rather spectacular caterpillar on a Leafy Spurge plant on a recent walk. This moth was introduced from Europe as a biological control for the weed, Leafy Spurge. The moth has been released in Alberta where it is thriving and eating leafy spurge.

Hover flies have only one pair of wings, whereas wasps and bees have two pairs. The Hover Fly mimics various bees and wasps by copying the bold yellow and black warning colours.