Butterflies of Prince Edward County by Paul Catling – 2014

FIELD GUIDE TO BUTTERFLIES LONG OVERDUE     

The field guide was out of date before it was even launched! This frustrating experience happens to all authors of field guides and reference books when they deal with something as dynamic as wildlife..

And, so it was for Dr. Paul Catling when he produced his Field Guide To Butterflies of Prince Edward County and Surrounding area. The intoxicating and unmistakable aroma of the freshly printed books had not even faded when a new butterfly species touched down on County vegetation.

The little glassywing, a rather dark butterfly belonging to a group known as skippers was actually found by the author himself, at Macaulay Mountain. However, its omission wasn’t that serious. The uncommon butterfly was already in the book; it just hadn’t been seen in Prince Edward County. Dr. Catling likely had a feeling that such an omission might take place, given the way he designed the book. Although the book does focus on the County species as the name suggests, he structured the coverage area to include everything within a 100 km radius of Bloomfield. Roughly, from Gananoque, west to Port Hope, and from Bon Echo south to the south shore of Lake Ontario in the U.S.

However, Prince Edward County remains the focus, and each species in the book is indicated as to whether or not it has been documented for Prince Edward County. A checklist at the back of the book simplifies the search for a species presence in the area by breaking down the occurrence of each one treated, into Prince Edward County, Ontario in general, or New York State.  Catling says the County’s natural landscape is remarkable and that guides to some of what exists here are long overdue. Hence, the new book on butterflies to accompany those already written on the birds, herptiles and wildflowers in response to the need for these guides, given the current interest in our flora and fauna. Catling acknowledges that only two field naturalists have done any previous work on the butterflies of the area. Yvette and David Bree, both Park Naturalists, have gathered records and sightings that are now in the data bases.

Over 100 butterfly species are treated in this compact 63-page full colour guide, but only 77 of those are attributed to Prince Edward County (78, if you count the glassywing). The author attributes the relatively low number to lack of study, but thanks to the Brees, the list is certainly higher than what it could have been had they not helped.

The new book just doesn’t dive head first into the species account, but rather, devotes 15 pages to gently introducing the reader to the area covered, how to use the book, butterfly life history, food preferences, some information on recording sightings through the Internet’s Ontario Butterfly Atlas and Ebutterfly (much like eBird), as well as some key areas to look for butterflies. The book also includes a page on the metamorphosis of everyone’s favourite butterfly, the Monarch. There is also a section on current threats and conservation measures.

Included in the book, of course, is one of our more recent immigrants, the giant swallowtail, first arriving here some 15 years ago, and now widely spread. In more southern regions of its distribution, the larva feeds on citrus, where it has been given the unflattering nickname of “orange dog.” This might explain the butterfly’s attraction to prickly ash which can also produce a citrusy smell. It comes by it quite honestly, since prickly ash is a member of the Rue family, along with oranges and lemons, etc.

Prince Edward County Field Naturalists member and past president, Myrna Wood, says that Dr. Catling prepared the book for the conservation of natural habitats, with all proceeds being directed to the naturalist group, founded in 1997. “Firstly, it is going toward the public education of all buyers of the book and, secondly, proceeds may be used to fund other activities that benefit conservation of the South Shore specifically.”

Butterflies of Prince Edward County and the Surrounding Region is available at Books & Company, in Picton  for $25.00