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Nymphalidae

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Common morpho

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Morpho helenor

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This famous blue butterfly that stirs the imagination will be back flying free in the Insectarium’s Great Vivarium.

The common morpho has fascinating bright, iridescent colors. The underside of its wings sports circular spots called ocelli, whose surprise effect on predators can cause them to flee.

Before reaching this radiant adult phase, the butterfly is first a caterpillar with an elongated colorful, fuzzy body. Then, as a chrysalis, it can be observed hanging upside down while its transformation continues until it’s ready to deploy its wings. Its natural habitat is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Longwings butterflies

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Heliconius sp.

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You can watch butterflies from the Heliconius genus in flight in the Insectarium’s Great Vivarium.

Butterflies of the Heliconius genus include around 550 species worldwide. They have slender bodies, long antennae, and vivid colours known as aposematic colouring, which warn predators of their toxicity.

Their eggs resemble tiny ears of corn and are typically laid singly.

At the end of the day, many longwings butterfly's species tend to gather in clusters. This behaviour amplifies their aposematic colouring, reinforcing the visual signal and lowering each individual’s risk of predation.

 Superfamily: Papilionoidea

Monarch

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Danaus plexippus

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The monarch is one of Quebec’s largest diurnal butterflies. It has orange wings with black veins and a wingspan of 9.3 to 10.5 cm. This butterfly is well known for the spectacular migration that eastern North American populations undertake each autumn to Mexico.

The male can be distinguished from the female by two small black spots on the hindwings. In addition, the black bands on the wings of the female are wider than those of the male.

Ecological role

These butterflies help to pollinate various nectar-bearing plants as they browse on their flowers.

Viceroy

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Limenitis archippus

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This butterfly’s wingspan ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 cm. Their orange colour contrasts with their black ribs. There is one row of white spots along the wide black edge of their wings.

Red admiral

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Vanessa atalanta rubria

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This butterfly’s wingspan ranges from 5.5 to 6 cm. Its forewings are black with white spots and a red stripe. Its lower wings are marbled brown and black, with an orange spot on the edge.

Question mark

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Polygonia interrogationis

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The question mark is one of the largest and loveliest of the Polygonia butterflies. Its wings are rust-coloured with many black and pale lilac spots close to the edges. The silver mark shaped like a question mark on the underside of its lower wings is where it gets its English and Latin name. A narrow lilac band runs around the edge of the top side of its wings, while the underside is a uniform shade of rust. The butterfly’s wingspan ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 cm.

Mourning cloak

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Nymphalis antiopa antiopa

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This large butterfly has a wingspan of 6 to 8 cm. Its wings are purplish brown, with a line of blue spots along a yellow border. Males and females look alike.  

Painted lady

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Vanessa cardui

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This beautiful butterfly has orange wings with black and white spots. The brown colouring of the butterfly’s thorax extends to the inner area of its wings. The back of its wings is lighter in colour and the edge of the lower wing has a row of eyespots.

White admiral

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Limenitis arthemis arthemis

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The caterpillar and chrysalid of this butterfly look like bird droppings, which protects them from predators. Adults have two pairs of black wings with white stripes. The edge of their bottom wings features reddish-orange and blue spots. The front and back of their wings are different colours, but both sides feature white bands that look like an admiral’s stripes. Their wingspan ranges from 47 to 78 mm. Females look like males, except slightly bigger.

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