ISLAND BUTTERFLIES 
     
    
   
   
    
     by Kelly Murphy, West Royalty 
     
    
   
   
    
     With the return of spring one can also anticipate the return of our Island 
     
     butterflies. P.E.I. has a fine variety of these beautiful flying insects. Some 
     
     are early risers, such as the Mourning Cloak, which has been seen flying around 
     
     while there is still snow on the ground. The Atlantis Fritillary prefers the 
     
     warmer weather of July and August. - 
     
    

    
     Many small butterflies go unnoticed because of their size. Two such ones are 
     
     the seemingly rare Striped Hairstreak, and the equally tiny Common Blue, which 
     
     likes to hide in tall grasses. 
     
    

    
     Larqer, brightly colored Red Admirals and orange and pink American Painted 
     
     Ladied seem to lead the color parade as they flutter around the fields landing 
     
     on flowers. 
     
    

    
     Some still larger Island butterflies include the yellow and black striped 
     
     Tiger Swallowtail, and the white and black striped White Admiral. The orange and 
     
     black Viceroy, often mistaken for the Monarch, which isn't found on the Island, can 
     
     also be seen soaring over fields in the summer. 
     
    

    
     There are of course the butterflies everyone is familiar with: the Pink-edged 
     
     Sulfurs (its buttery yellow wings probably gave the butterfly its name) and the 
     
     .white Cabbage Butterfly desoised by leafy-vegetable farmers because of the feeding 
     
     habits of its caterpillar. 
     
    

    
     You may be certain that one of the aforementioned insects, or others, can be 
     
     seen on a warm Prince Edward Island day from April to September. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     (Not life size) 
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     Striped Hairstreak 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Mourning Cloak Pink-edged Sulfur 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
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