- Skippers and Butterflies
- Highlights from the 2000 Butterflies General Status Assessments
- 2000 Summary of General Status Ranks for Newfoundland and Labrador Butterflies and Skippers
- Dragonflies and Damselflies
- Highlights from the 2000 Dragonflies & Damselflies
- Tiger Beetles
- 2005 Summary of the General Status Ranks for Tiger Beetles
Insects and spiders belong to a group of animals called arthropods, which are characterized by:
- an external skeleton (exoskeleton),
- a segmented body
- jointed appendages
Insects are the most diverse group of animals in the world and are further identified as having:
- three body segments
- three pairs of legs
- antennae
Insectsfulfill many roles, and often directly or indirectly affect humans. Aspollinators, they are irreplaceable for the continued viability of numerousplant species, but insects can also be vectors of disease and significantconsumers of plants, some of which are important resources for people. Otherinsects play essential roles in nutrient cycling, biological control, and are animportant food source for other animals.
Insectsestablished on the Island of Newfoundland representmainly post-glacial immigration from the mainland, with numerous Europeanintroductions. With Labrador representing the easternmost limits of the arctic,sub-arctic and mainland boreal regions of North America,insect assemblages in this part of the province can be unique. Currently, morethan 4,700 terrestrial insects, representing 21 orders, have been recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador
Spiders,while a large and diverse group, are more narrowly focused in their feedinghabits than insects, being almost exclusively predators.
Uniquefeatures of spiders include:
- They possess only two body segments
- They do not have antennae
- Mouthparts are modified into fangs
- They have spinnerets
Spiders have limited muscle developmentcompared to insects and rely on hydraulic pressure instead to extend andretract limbs.
Common groups encountered in Newfoundland and Labrador include:
- orb weavers
- wolf spiders
- jumping spiders.
Just over 360 spiders have been recorded in the province to date.
The list of species in Newfoundland and Labrador is far from complete. As new areas of the province are surveyed new species for the province are being discovered.
Skippers and Butterflies
One of the first signs of spring in Newfoundland and Labrador is the appearance of over-wintering butterflies. Our province is home to 55 of the country’s 293 butterfly species.
- Compton’s Tortoiseshells and Mourning Cloaks can be seen as early as April in parts of the Province.
- As summer progresses into fall, 41 different butterfly species may be spotted in Newfoundland, and 44 species in Labrador.
Butterflies are very visible and have been extensively surveyed across insular Newfoundland; we know more about butterflies than we do other invertebrate group, yet the status of 43% of native species in Labrador and 15% in Newfoundland is assessed as Undetermined.
This lack of information has led the Wildlife Division to establish a volunteer monitoring program to further track and assess these species. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit Wildlife Biodiversity Monitoring.
Highlights from the 2000 Butterflies General Status Assessments
- 8% of native species from Newfoundland and 5% in Labrador are Sensitive; 30 of 39 native species in Newfoundland are Secure. Only 22 of 42 species in Labrador are Secure;
- 18 of 42 native species in Labrador are assessed with the status Undetermined;
- There has been one Accidental recorded in Labrador. In 2002, a Checkered White was collected just outside Labrador City/ Wabush, well over 1,000 km away from the closest known population of the species.
2000 General Status of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Skippers and Butterflies
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Rhopalocera-Skippers and Butterflies
Family | Common Name | Scientific Name | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arctic Skipper | Carterocephalus palaemon | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Hesperiidae Skippers |
Common Branded/ Labrador Skipper | Hesperia comma | Secure | Secure | Secure |
European Skipper | Thymelicus lineola | Exotic | Exotic | ||
Grizzled Skipper | Pyrgus centaureae | Secure | Secure | ||
Peck’s Skipper | Polites peckius | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Lycaenidae Blues and Coppers |
Arctic Blue | Agriades glandon | Secure | Secure | Secure |
Bog Copper | Lycaena epixanthe | Secure | Secure | ||
Brown Elfin | Callophrys augustinus | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Dorcas Copper | Lycaena dorcas | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Greenish Blue | Plebejus saepiolus | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Northern Blue | Lycaeides idas | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Silvery Blue | Glaucopsyche lygdamus | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Spring Azure | Celastrina ladon | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Papilionidae SwallowtailButteflies |
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio canadensis | Secure | Secure | |
Short-tailed Swallowtail | Papilio brevicauda | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Nymphalidae Brushedfoot Butterflies |
American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Sensitive | Undetermined | Sensitive |
Atlantis Fritillary | Speyeria atlantis | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Bog Fritillary | Boloria eunomia | Undetermined | Secure | Secure | |
Common Ringlet | Coenonympha tullia | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Compton Tortoiseshell | Nymphalis vaualbum | Secure | Secure | ||
Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Freija Fritillary | Boloria freija | Undetermined | Secure | Secure | |
Frigga Fritillary | Boloria frigga | Secure | Secure | ||
Gray Comma | Polygonia progne | Secure | Secure | ||
Green Comma | Polygonia faunus | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Hoary Comma | Polygonia gracilis | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Jutta Arctic | Oeneis jutta | Sensitive | Sensitive | Sensitive | |
Meadow Fritillary | Boloria bellona | Secure | Secure | ||
Melissa Arctic | Oeneis melissa | Sensitive | Sensitive | ||
Milbert’s Tortiseshell | Nymphalis milbereti | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Sensitive | Sensitive | ||
Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Northern Crescent | Phyciodes cocyta | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Polaris Fritillary | Boloria polaris | Secure | Secure | ||
Polixenes Arctic | Oeneis polixenes | Undetermined | Secure | Secure | |
Question Mark | Polygonia interrogationis | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Family | Common Name | Scientific Name | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Ross’s Alpine | Erebia rossii | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Satyr Comma | Polygonia satyrus | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Silver-bordered Fritillary | Boloria selene | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Taiga Alpine | Erebia mancinus | Secure | Secure | ||
White Admiral | Limenitis arthemis | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
White Veined Arctic | Oeneis bore | Accidental | Accidental | ||
Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Secure | Secure | ||
Hecla Sulphur | Colias hecla | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Pieridae | Labrador Sulphur | Colias nastes | Secure | Secure | |
Sulphurs and Whites | Mustard White | Pieris oleracea | Secure | Secure | Secure |
Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Secure | Secure | ||
Palaeno Sulphur | Colias palaeno | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Pelidne Sulphur | Colias pelidne | Secure | Secure | Secure | |
Pink-edged Sulphur | Colias interior | Secure | Undetermined | Secure |
2000 Summary of General Status Ranks for Newfoundland and Labrador Butterflies and Skippers
Rank | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
---|---|---|---|
Extinct/Extirpated | 0 | 0 | 0 |
At Risk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
May be at Risk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sensitive | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Secure | 30 | 22 | 40 |
Undetermined | 6 | 18 | 8 |
Not Assessed | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Exotic | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Accidental | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Grand Total | 41 | 44 | 55 |
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Entomologists and ecologists have been studying Odonata (taxonomic order of Dragonflies & Damselflies) in the province for the last 100 years, yet we still know very little about this group.
- Dragonflies are the most elegant and graceful fliers of the insect world.
- Several species in Newfoundland and Labrador are brightly colored: others are metallic greens and blues. The most amazing sight is the image of a River Jewelwing flying back and forth over a brook or stream on a sunny day.
- The gracefulness and beauty of these species is highlighted in the common names of many species: Wandering Gliders, Azure Darner and River Jewelwing.
- Odonates are some of the most proficient hunters in the insect world.
- Dragonflies and damselflies rely on aquatic systems for their early development. These animals are susceptible to environmental changes that affect water flow, sediment and temperature.
We have limited information on the abundance and distribution of this group in the province. In order to protect these species, we need to ensure buffer zones are maintained surrounding water bodies, protect wetlands from development, and reduce pesticide and other pollutants flowing into our waterways.
If you would like to help the Wildlife Division collect more information on the province’s Dragonflies & Damselflies, please visit Wildlife Biodiversity Monitoring.
Highlights from the 2000 Dragonflies & Damselflies
General Status Assessments
- A total of 41 species were assessed;
- 44% of Newfoundland species were Secure;
- 55% of Newfoundland and 100% of Labrador Odonate species were assessed as being Undetermined;
- This assessment highlights the need for more detailed field inventories to determine the abundance and distribution of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Dragonflies.
Order: Odonata
Family: Anisoptera-Dragonflies
Family | Common Name | Scientific Name | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aeshnidae | Canada darner | Aeshna canadensis | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Lake darner | Aeshna eremita | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Variable darner | Aeshna interrupta | Secure | Secure | ||
Sedge darner | Aeshna juncea | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Azure darner | Aeshna septentrionalis | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Zigzag darner | Aeshna sitchensis | Secure | Secure | ||
Subarctic darner | Aeshna subarctica | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Yellow spotted dragonfly/ shadow darner |
Aeshna umbrosa | Secure | Secure | ||
Corduliidae | American emerald/ green eyed skimmer |
Cordulia shurtleffi | Secure | Undetermined | Secure |
Ringed emerald | Somatochlora albicincta | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Quebec emerald | Somatochlora brevicincta | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Lake emerald/ green eyed skimmer |
Somatochlora cingulata | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Delicate emerald | Somatochlora franklini | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Forcipate emerald/ green eyed skimmer |
Somatochlora forcipata | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Kennedy’s emerald | Somatochlora kennedyi | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Ocellated emerald | Somatochlora minor | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Muskeg emerald/ green eyed skimmer |
Somatochlora septentrionalis | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Brushed-tipped emerald/ green eyed skimmer | Somatochlora walshii | Secure | Secure | ||
Whitehouse’s emerald | Somatochlora whitehousei | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Gomphidae | Boreal snake tail/ club tail |
Ophiogomphus colubrinus | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Libellulidae | Crimson-ringed whiteface/ common skimmer |
Leucorrhinia glacialis | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined |
Hudsonian whiteface/ common skimmer |
Leucorrhinia hudsonica | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Red-waisted whiteface/ common skimmer |
Leucorrhinia proxima | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Four spotted skimmer | Libellula quadrimaculata | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Wandering glider | Pantala flavescens | Vagrant | Vagrant | ||
Saffron-winged meadowhawk | Sympetrum costiferum | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Black meadowhawk /common skimmer | Sympetrum danae | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Cherry-faced meadowhawk/ common skimmer |
Sympetrum internum | Undetermined | Undetermined |
2000 General Status of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Damselflies
Order: Odonata
Family: Zygoptera-Damselflies
Family | Common Name | Scientific Name | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calopterygidae | River jewelwing/ apically spotted damselfly |
Calopteryx aequabilis | Undetermined | Undetermined | |
Coenagrionidae | Subarctic bluet | Coenagrion interrogatum | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined |
Taiga bluet/ narrow winged damselfly | Coenagrion resolutum | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Boreal bluet/ narrow winged damselfly |
Enallagma boreale | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Northern bluet | Enallagma civile | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Familiar bluet | Enallagma cyathigerum | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Marsh bluet | Enallagma ebrium | Secure | Secure | ||
Fragile forktail | Ischnura posita | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Eastern forktail/ common forktail |
Ischnura verticalis | Secure | Secure | ||
Sedge sprite/ narrow winged damselfly |
Nehalennia irene | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Lestidae | Spotted spreadwing | Lestes congener | Undetermined | Undetermined | Undetermined |
Common spreadwing | Lestes disjunctus | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Lyre-tipped spreadwing | Lestes unguiculatus | Undetermined | Undetermined |
Tiger Beetles
Tiger Beetles are some of the most interesting beetles in Newfoundland and Labrador. Cicindela hirticollis, for example, has a brownish-green dorsal surface with faint yellow markings on the elytra (upper wings), but once you turn the species over, the ventral surface is a kaleidoscope of iridescent greens and blues.
Seven Tiger Beetle species are present in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Tiger Beetles occur in a variety of environments throughout the province, but most live in areas with loose sandy soils.
- Like dragonflies and damselflies, Tiger Beetles are voracious hunters. On a sunny day, you can watch these “tigers†of the insect world attack and take down flies and other insects almost twice their size.
- Insect collectors have fun trying to collect these critters: with their large eyes, they can see you coming from all sides.
Highlights from the Tiger Beetle 2005 General Status Assessments
- One species May Be at Risk in Labrador, the other 4 species in Labrador are Undetermined;
- In Newfoundland there are 3 species that are Secure, one species is Sensitive and 2 species are Undetermined.
Order: Coleoptera-Beetles
Family | Common Name | Scientific Name | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blowout Tiger Beetle | Cicindela limbata | May be at Risk | May Be At Risk | ||
Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle | Cicindela hirticollis | Sensitive | Sensitive | ||
Cicindelidae | Twelve-spotted Tiger Beetle | Cicindela duidecimguttata | Secure | Undetermined | Secure |
Long-lipped Tiger Beetle | Cicindela longilabris | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Common Shore Tiger Beetle | Cicindela repanda | Secure | Undetermined | Secure | |
Clay Bank Tiger Beetle | Cicindela limbalis | Undetermined | Undetermined | ||
Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle | Cicindela trabquebarica | Undetermined | Undetermined |
2005 Summary of the General Status Ranks for Tiger Beetles
Rank | Newfoundland | Labrador | Provincal |
---|---|---|---|
Extinct/Extirpated | 0 | 0 | 0 |
At Risk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
May be at Risk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sensitive | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Secure | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Undetermined | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Not Assessed | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Exotic | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Accidental | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Grand Total | 6 | 4 | 7 |