
Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle
News and Events InsectsHungerford’s crawling water beetle is only found in three rivers in Ontario’s Bruce County and five rivers in northern Michigan. Small changes to their aquatic homes could have big impacts on this globally rare insect.

Karner Blue Butterfly
News and Events InsectsThe karner blue depends upon wild lupine, where it lays its eggs. The Karner blue’s 25-millimetre wingspan isn’t the only reason these tiny butterflies are hard to spot. As of 1993, the Karner blue has disappeared from Canada.

Mottled Duskywing
News and Events InsectsThe plants that mottled duskywings feed on require dry sandy areas or limestone alvars found in very few places in eastern Canada. Unfortunately, these sensitive areas are also prime sites for human development.

Prairie Butterflies
News and Events InsectsSince the 1850s, over 99 per cent of North America’s native prairies have been lost to agriculture and overgrazing, putting the survival of many prairie species, including several butterflies, in serious jeopardy.

Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee
News and Events InsectsOne of the most common species of bumble bee in southern Ontario as recently as the 1980s, this hard-working pollinator is now on the brink of extinction throughout its large range. It has not been observed in Canada since 2009.

Taylor’s Checkerspot
News and Events InsectsAs native grasslands are lost, the survival of the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly hangs in the balance. Because of its sensitivity to changes in its habitat, it is considered an environmental indicator for the health of the entire ecosystem.

Yellow-Banded Bumble Bee
News and Events InsectsBecause they use nectar and pollen as their source of fuel, protein and nutrients, yellow-banded bumble bees love habitats that offer plenty of flowers. This can include meadows, grasslands, wetlands, forests and farms.