Incredible Insects! #1

Hi everyone! I decided to continue something I began 3 years ago, showing some of our incredible insects that we have around us. Many of these insects can be found over a large area, others, not so much. Most people don’t like insects, understandably so. Many will bite, or sting and generally are not nice to have around. However, they do play an important part of natural ecosystems around the world.

They pollinate our flowers and flowering trees, such as fruit trees. They are also part of the food chain, many birds rely on insects for their food. Oh, and not just birds, but other insects, plus mammals, reptiles and amphibians too. But each insect is incredible in its own way, and many are incredibly beautiful too.

Northern Crescent butterfly feeding on an ox-eye daisy.

Today I will begin with a butterfly that is quite common in our area, the Northern Crescent. It is a smaller butterfly, with a wingspan of up to 1.5 inches (3.75cm), the female is darker than the male. They are around all summer, from early June to mid September, and they have one brood during that time.

Here is another one feeding on yarrow.

The caterpillars eat panicled and smooth asters, both are common in our area. They overwinter as caterpillars. The adult butterflies get their food from spreading dogbane, asters, white clover, fleabanes, daisy, yarrow and thistles, depending on the time of summer. Well, there is our first insect, have a great day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2025 Steve McLeod.